Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne Residents Honored At Irish Flag Raising

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Hudson County on Wednesday honored a host of residents of local towns at its annual Irish flag raising in Jersey City.

The event included traditional music and presentations of citations from County Executive Tom DeGise, who is half-Irish, for "proud sons and daughters of St. Patrick from throughout Hudson County."

The County’s Annual Irish Flag Raising takes place each year at the historic William J. Brennan Court House (583 Newark Ave., Jersey City).

The event featured bagpipe music and a performance by the Keri Smith Academy of Irish Dance. Father Brian Emerson Page conducted the invocation and benediction.

“I’m always pleased to take part in this annual celebration of Irish heritage, one I proudly share —on my mother’s side — with our honorees from across Hudson County,” said DeGise. “I know it will be a wonderful event.”

The county executive’s chief of staff, Craig Guy, received a citation for being selected Grand Marshal of the Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“I’m so thankful for this honor,” said Chief of Staff Guy. “It will mean even more receiving my citation from the county executive, who I have been so proud to serve the people of Hudson County with for more than 20 years. My thanks of course also to our Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, and our fantastic Committee Chairperson, Maureen Hulings.”

Here is a list of the citation recipients, by town:

Bayonne:

Bridget Antczak - Parade Chair, Bayonne St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee; Gabrielle Figueroa, Parade Coordinator and Aide to the Grand Marshal; Aide to the Grand Marshal for the County Donegal Association; Melanie McBride; Aide to the Grand Marshal for the Irish American League Patrick Donovan; Aide to the Grand Marshal for the Shamrock Society, Mary Ellen (Calverley) Page; Aide to the Grand Marshal for the County Corkmen’s Association, Allison Conway; Irish American League's Irishwoman of the Year, Jennifer Shea Tarantino; Irish American League's Irish Business Owner, Rosemary (Donovan) Kellner; Irish American League's Irish Educator of the Year, Colleen Byrne; 2023 Mary from Dungloe, Shannon Neary.

Hoboken:

Irishwoman of the Year - Linda Milne; Irishman of the Year- Joseph Caufield; Irish Police Officer of the Year - Connor Milne; Irish Educator of the Year - Michelle McGreivey ; Honorary Irishman of the Year - James Farina; Honorary Irishwoman of the Year - Nora De Benedetto; Irish Business of the Year - Paul Dawson of Mulligans Pub; Irish Senior of the Year - Noreen Stapleton.

Jersey City:

Maureen Killeen Hulings - Chairwoman, Jersey City St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee; Grand Marshal - Craig Guy; Irishwoman of the Year - Kim Scalcione; Irishman of the Year - Sean Patrick O’Leary; Irish Police Officer - Sgt. Gary Griffin; Irish Firefighter - Deputy Chief Bill McClintock; Irish EMT - Edana Rahbari I; Irish Educator - Terry Matthews; Honorary Irishwoman - Joyce Watterman; Honorary Irishman - Joe Cunha; Miss Colleen - Juliana Peters.

West Hudson:

Kevin Quinn - President, United Irish of West Hudson; Grand Marshal - Jimmy "Lucky" Lawless; Deputy Grand Marshals - Marybeth Kennedy and Lisa Steiner Schalago.