The Great Irish Fair of New York

This Years Al O'Hagan Award for Community Leadership will be presented posthumously to Bob Golden. Although he lived in Arrochar, Staten Island for more than thirty years, he always considered Bay Ridge his hometown. Before retiring, Bob was an Executive Vice President of Prudential Financial. He was a man of deep faith and gave tirelessly to many charitable causes, of which Catholic Charities and HeartShare Human Services, for which he served as Vice Chair, were closest to ...his heart. Bob loved everything Irish and was a proud member of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, The Emerald Association of Long Island, The Ancient Order of Hibernians, and The Saint Patrick’s Society of Brooklyn. In 2000, he was named one of the Wall Street 50 by Irish America Magazine. He was also past President of The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn and The Bayfort Benevolent Associates. Bob was a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a Knight, Grand Cross, of The Equestrian Order of The Holy Sepulchre, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Bob passed away on June 9th of this year. He spent his life as a leader and a role model and exemplified what the Al O'Hagan Award stands for. Tune into the Great Irish Fair right here on Facebook Live in 1 hour!

This years Chief Brehon will be Brian McCabe. Brian McCabe is Chairman of The Meitheal, Irish-America In Support of Healthcare Workers. Brian is one of a large and well-known Irish American family with a distinguished tradition of service in the political, legal, educational, building trades and cultural life of New York City. Brian enjoyed a long and accomplished career in the NYPD Detective Bureau as a detective and commander and was widely recognized for his service in th...e Irish Peace Process. Post NYPD, Brian was a Vice President of Federal Shield, a security and consulting firm engaged in Developing World security consultations and institutional training and also served as National Director for Healthcare Services with Apollo Security. Brian is the founder and President of the McGuinness-McDonald Division of the AOH, and was 2018 Gael of the Year for the Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Brian is also a former Chairman of the American Irish Historical Society. He is currently a System Director with the Bon Secours Charity Health System and a consultant in investigative and security operations, creative and educational projects and is a featured columnist with the Irish Echo newspaper. Tune into the Great Irish Fair on Facebook Live at 4PM!

The moment is here! Tune in for the 39th Annual Great Irish Fair. It means so much to us to be able to continue our tradition of celebrating Irish Culture despite the pandemic. We wanted to say Thank You to all of those Frontline workers who have put themselves on the line during this incredibly challenging time. All proceeds from this years Great Irish fair will benefit a scholarship fund for children of First-Responders in Catholic Schools. Please consider making a donat...ion to our cause at the below link https://www.iabsny.com/fair-donation Venmo: @IABSNY Enjoy everyone!

This years Timothy Stackpole Memorial Award will be presented to Thomas Dolan. Thomas Dolan is a Deputy Chief with the NYC Fire Department. He has been with the FDNY for 29 years. Thomas’ Irish roots stem from the counties of Cavan, Tyrone, and Mayo. In 2017, on his second trip to Ireland, he and 21 of his family members had the opportunity to spend some time in the house in which his grandmother was raised, in Loughduff. Thomas grew up in Windsor Terrace, Holy Name Pari...sh. He is the sixth of eight children born to Ann and the late James P. Dolan. Thomas’ maternal grandparents raised their family at 1621 10th Avenue. His parents raised their 8 children in the same home where his mother, Ann, continues to reside today. Thomas attended Holy Name of Jesus Grammar School and before graduating from Poly Prep Country Day School he attended Power Memorial and Cathedral Prep Seminary. Thomas studied finance at Iona College where he swam and played water polo. In 2017, he was inducted into the Iona College Student Athletes Hall of Fame for swimming and water polo. Thomas joined the FDNY in 1991 where he worked at Ladder 114, Tally-Ho, following in his Uncle Billy’s footsteps. He later worked at Ladder 176 in Bushwick until he was promoted to lieutenant. Following the attacks on 9/11, Thomas worked at Ground Zero for 8 months until June 2002. Subsequently, he was assigned to Ladder 105 as a Lieutenant, Ladder 175 as Captain, and the 8th Battalion as a Battalion Chief until his promotion to Deputy Chief. Tune into the Great Irish Fair on Facebook Live at 4PM

This years St. Thomas More Award will be presented to the Honorable Peter Kelly. Queens County Surrogate Peter J. Kelly is a graduate of Iona College and St. John’s University School of Law. Prior to his judicial career, Surrogate Kelly was employed in various positions in the New York City Criminal and Civil, as well as the New York State Supreme and Surrogate’s courts. Judge Kelly was elected to the New York City Civil Court in 1998, the New York State Supreme Court in 2...002, and the Queens County Surrogate’s Court in 2011. He has served the 2.3 million residents of Queens in that capacity since that time. In addition to his judicial duties, Surrogate Kelly has been a frequent lecturer at County and State Bar Associations as well as various civic and charitable organizations. He is also the author of numerous decisions which have been published in the New York Law Journal and New York Reporter. Surrogate Kelly is currently a member of the Surrogate’s Court Advisory Committee to the Chief Judge; the Administrative Board of the Offices of the Public Administrators; is Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the New York State Surrogate’s Association; and is a member of numerous professional bar associations. Treasuring his Irish heritage, Surrogate Kelly is a proud member of several Irish American civic and legal associations including the Queens County St. Patrick’s Society; the Brehon Law Society; the Friendly Sons of Long Island and the American Irish Historical Society. He has also been selected as a member of the Irish Legal 100 comprised of outstanding attorneys of Irish descent in the United States. His paternal Irish ancestors emigrated to America in the middle 1800’s from Longford and his maternal ancestors trace their lineage to County Leitrim. He is a parishioner at St. Joseph’s and attended St Joseph’s grammar school and Msgr Mc Clancy Memorial HS. Tune into the Great Irish Fair on Facebook Live at 4PM!!!

This years Kathleen Slattery Woman of the Year Award will be presented to Debbie Duggan. Born and raised in Marine Park Brooklyn, Debbie Duggan is very proud of her Irish-Catholic Heritage. Her Grandparents came from Donegal and resided in Park Slope for over 60 years. Her father was a NYC Police Detective and her mother worked in Beth Israel’s X-ray department. She is the oldest of three siblings. Her brother works for Phillips Medical Equipment in Sales and her sister al...so works as a Registered Nurse in the ER at NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. Debbie attended St Thomas Aquinas grade school, Stella Maris HS, Kingsborough Community College , and St Joseph College where she obtained her Degree in Nursing and Masters degree in Health Care Management and an MBA. She is Board Certified in Medical Surgical Nursing and Pain Management. Nursing called Debbie at an early age as she enjoys caring for people. She always wanted to be a Nurse. She is currently a Patient Care Director in NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. She has worked there for 28 years and she loves serving the community and providing quality care to the patients with her wonderful Nursing staff. She received the Nursing Award for Excellence in Nursing Leadership in 2018. She has two wonderful children: Kathleen, an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley in NYC, and Michael, a NYC Firefighter. Her fiancé Richie Grant recently retired from NYC Police Department. Debbie loves traveling , reading and going to concerts. She enjoys getting together with family and friends. She can’t wait until they can all celebrate her mom’s 85th Birthday, which was cancelled due to the pandemic in March. This has been a challenging year that has made her faith and courage grow stronger. Tune into the Great Irish Fair on Facebook Live at 4PM

This Years Colleen Queen will be Grace Schramm! Grace Rose Elizabeth Schramm was born on Christmas Day 2004, to Michael Schramm and Sheila Burke-Schramm. She grew up in the Irish enclave of Breezy Point. Grace is very proud of her Irish roots with maternal family coming from Sligo and Letrim and paternal family hailing from Mayo and Galway. Grace started her Catholic School education with Pre-K in St. Rose of Lima in Rockaway Park. She transferred to St. Francis de Sales Cath...olic Academy in Belle Harbor just before third grade and eventually graduated from there in 2018. Grace is currently in her junior year at Fontbonne Hall Academy where she has a Culminate grade point average of 95 during her Freshmen and Sophomore years. In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Grace is involved in many extracurricular activities, she plays both lacrosse and volleyball, and is a very active member of the Friends For Life pro-life club and the Adventure Club. In addition to her school activities, Grace has been very active in her home parish of Blessed Trinity in Breezy Point. She has served as an Altar Server for many years, played CYO Soccer, Basketball and Volleyball. Grace is very generous with her free time and often volunteers at the Point Breeze Volunteer Fire Department where her father is currently the Assistant Chief, helping with the department’s major fundraisers each year. On Catholic Holidays when she is off from school and NYC Schools are in session, Grace often volunteers as an assistant teacher and helps her mother Sheila teach her fifth grade class. As a Junior, Grace is starting to look at different Catholic colleges and is torn between a career in Forensic Psychology and Physical Therapy. Grace and her parents, would like to thank the Irish American Building Society and the organizers of the Great Irish Fair of New York for choosing her to be the Colleen Queen of the 39 th Annual fair. Tune into the Great Irish Fair on Facebook Live at 4PM

Check out our official Great Irish Fair event schedule! Featuring acts like Andy Cooney and His Band The Canny Brothers Band The Narrowbacks The Whole Shabang (Original Line Up) Susan and Gerard and so much more! Catch all of it right here on Facebook Live!!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our "Friends of the Fair" who have all made a generous donation so that we can continue to host our faith-filled, cultural, tradition every year! Become a Friend of the Fair today by making a donation at the below link! https://www.iabsny.com/fair-donation Be sure to tune in right here on Facebook Live to the Virtual Great Irish Fair Saturday the 19th at 4PM!

This Saturday at 4PM Eastern we will be Live right here on Facebook! We cannot wait for The Canny Brothers Band to perform this weekend! Listen to this message from the Boys from Brooklyn and don't forget to tune in! This years Great Irish Fair will be dedicating all of our proceeds to a special scholarship fund for children of First Responders attending Catholic Schools. Please consider making a donation to The Great Irish Fair at this link. https://www.iabsny.com/fair-donat...ion Help us to help those who sacrificed themselves during these unprecedented times!!

On Thursday, September 17th, we are working with a very special group from Ireland. Ireland Reaching Out is a team dedicated to connecting people of Irish Heritage with their homeland. We are teaming up to create a LIVE #webinar where you will learn all about some interesting historical characters from our #NewYork Irish history. You can register for thus Thursday's Webinar at the below link The Great Irish Fair of New York https://irelandxo.com//news/irelandxo-great-irish-fair-new

We will be live on Facebook with the 39th Annual Great Irish Fair this Saturday at 4pm! Here's The Narrowbacks, who will be a part of the show, reminding you to tune in!!! Since 1981 we have kept the faith-filled, cultural tradition alive and this year we could use your help! Please consider making a donation to this years Great Irish Fair at this link http://ow.ly/9teW50AXbbQ We will be honoring those who have sacrificed themselves on the front lines of the Covid-19 Pandem...ic. Help us carry on this tradition for years to come! All proceeds go towards a scholarship fund designed to help children of first responders attending Catholic Schools. Help us towards our goal!

On September 8th 2001 thousands gathered at Dreier Offerman Park in Coney Island for the Great Irish Fair. Father Mychal Judge said mass, Timothy Stackpole stood on stage and was honored before spending the day with his family. 3 days later the world changed forever. Today we remember those whose lives were lost on that fateful day. We celebrate their memory, their bravery, and lasting impact on today’s world. We Will Never Forget. Proceeds from this years Great Irish Fair will go towards a scholarship fund for children of first responders in Catholic schools. We will always remember and we will always be thankful.