Joe Houlihan Named Grand Marshall of Eastchester St. Patrick's Day Parade 2015

The Eastchester Irish American Social Club (EIASC) is proud to sponsor Eastchester’s 11th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday March 15, 2015. This celebration has become a tradition and a source of pride and enjoyment for Eastchester and its surrounding area residents. The EIASC is delighted to announce that our Grand Marshal will be Joseph Houlihan. Stephen Huvane and Kathleen Huvane have been selected as Parade Honorees. The Eastchester St. Patrick’s Day Parade Festival and Installation of our Grand Marshal will take place on Saturday, March 7, at the Lake Isle Country Club.

Joe Houlihan’s Great Grandparents emigrated from county Kerry, Ireland in the late 1800’s. They arrived in varying states including New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The Houlihans have been a successful lot making several smart decisions, most importantly in real estate.

Joe is a graduate of Iona College where he received Bachelors in Business Administration; he also earned a CPA prior to commencing his own real estate career. Currently, Joe is the Managing Partner of the Residential Sales Group at Houlihan & O’Malley Real Estate Services in Bronxville, NY. Among his many accomplishments, Joe has been recognized by the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, winning the Diamond Award for sales of over $15,000,000 and is a multiple-year recipient of the Westchester County Five Star Real Estate Agent award. He is an active member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Bronxville, NY and the EIASC. In the recent past, he was on the Board of Trustees at the School of the Holy Child in Rye, NY (2007-2013). Joe and his wife, Anna Filipkowski resides in Fleetwood, NY where they raised three daughters, Kasia, Julia and Emily. Mr. Houlihan has chosen Gerry Houlihan (Brother), Patricia Houlihan (Cousin-in-Law) and Jim Coleman (Cousin-in-Law) as his Parade Aides.

Mr. Houlihans reaction to being selected as Grand Marshall was one of amazement. He stated, “I never thought I would have this honor. My family worked hard and became successful through hard work. There humble beginnings in Harlem brought them to Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx. They belonged to St. Phillip Neri Parish; there is a stained glass window at the church with the Houlihan name on it. That work ethic still stands and I am proud to be part of that history. I think the Eastchester Irish is a great local community group that promotes the continuation of Irish-American traditions and helps us remember our unpretentious Irish beginnings.”

Stephen and Kathleen Huvane are natives of the Bronx. Both of their parents have their roots in Ireland, Stephen’s coming from Counties Mayo and Galway and Kathleen’s from County Kerry. Stephen received his B.S. CIS from Manhattan College, M.S. from Iona College and currently works at Purdue Pharma L.P. Kathleen earned her BSN in Nursing from Mount St. Vincent and is a Registered Pediatric Nurse currently at The Eastchester Pediatric Medical Group (CWPW). Active members of the EIASC for over 16 years and the Swazi Legacy for five years, they reside in Eastchester where they raised their four children: Kaitlin, Eilish, Stephen and Kieran. Stephen has been a member of the EIASC St. Patrick’s Parade committee for nearly 10 years while Kathleen is an active member of various school functions/fundraisers.

The 2015 parade steps off at 3:00pm beginning at Immaculate Conception Church in Tuckahoe and will march north on Route 22 to Lake Isle Country Club. The parade incorporates local schools and organizations and will feature ten pipe bands, five Irish Dancing troupes, four brass marching bands, three Irish music bands and numerous other groups, including the Police and Fire Departments, as well as veteran and active military.

The Eastchester Irish American Social Club is a nonprofit organization founded in 1966 consisting of members from Eastchester, Tuckahoe, Bronxville and Crestwood. For more information, please visit our web site at www.eastchesterirish.org or join us on Facebook. For information about the Eastchester St. Patrick’s Day Parade Line of March or participating in the parade, please e-mail paradeinfo@eastchesterirish.org

Photos: Joe Houlihan; and Houlihan’s great-grandfather Daniel Houlihan in the 1894 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City.