Businessman & Advocate for Irish American Causes Sean Mackin is Grand Marshal for Eastchester St. Pat's Parade, March 12

EASTCHESTER’S SEAN MACKIN, BUSINESSMAN, NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF EASTCHESTER ST. PATRICK’S PARADE

Gala on Sat, March 4—Parade on Sun, March 12

The Eastchester Irish American Social Club (EIASC) announced Sean Mackin, Eastchester resident, and owner of Preferred Mechanical Inc. and Preferred Sprinkler Corp., is Grand Marshal for the EIASC’s 13th Annual Eastchester St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade is on Sunday, Mar. 12, 2017 at 3pm. The gala honoring Grand Marshal Mackin and Parade Honorees Nancy Heffernan, Caroline O’Connell and Margaret Reynolds Stapleton, all of Eastchester, is on Saturday, Mar. 4, in the evening at the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle. Gala and Parade details at eastchesterirish.org.

Born in Belfast, County Antrim, Mackin became a key voice in the Irish peace process working with elected officials in Washington D.C. to promote peace and justice in Northern Ireland. His efforts began at an early age when he joined the Irish republican movement, and was arrested and imprisoned several times. In 1983 he immigrated to the United States and eventually became an American citizen.

“My commitments to peace, justice and helping others have grown while living in America, but they come from my Irish roots, and I’m grateful to celebrate those ideals at Eastchester’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade with my family and community,” said Mackin. He and Philomena, members of the EIASC for 18 years, have three children, daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Taylor who have three children Gavin, Ryan and Ella Rose; son Sean Og; and son Ciaran and his partner Chelsey and their son Pierce. They all live in Eastchester.

In addition to his success in business, Mackin is a humanitarian and advocate for Irish American causes. He is co-founder and chairman of the New York Irish Center known for its outstanding services to the senior Irish generation and suicide prevention assistance for the Irish community. In 2014, he was honored by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform for his work with undocumented Irish.

At the gala, the Grand Marshal and Honorees will be presented with their parade sashes. Traditionally sold out, the gala is open to EIASC members and their guests. EIASC membership is open to those of Irish descent and anyone interested in Irish culture. Membership info at eastchesterirish.org

EIASC, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2016, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1966 with members from Eastchester, Tuckahoe, Bronxville, Crestwood and surrounding communities.