Cleveland's St. Patrick's Day Parade: Honorees

2025 Honorees

Shannon M. Corcoran
2025 Grand Marshal

Shannon M. Corcoran is the proud daughter of Diane and the late Dan, and sister of Chris Seghy and aunt to Bridget and Alex. She is a graduate of Magnificat High School and Bowling Green State University where she majored in Spanish, Political Science and Business. Her educational interest allowed her the privilege of being an exchange student in Madrid, Spain. Shannon’s professional career spans over 27 years at various corporations including the American Society of Sanitary Engineers, Canadian Standards Association, the Air Conditioning and Heating Institute and the American Gas Institute. Her work is centered on the Code and Standards of the Federal Government.

As an active member of many Irish Organizations in Cleveland, Shannon has enthusiastically worked to enrich each with her time and talent. She began her life of service as a student with the Burke School of Irish Dance where she spent twelve years performing in shows and competitions and helping other students learn this rigorous art form.

Shannon has been a dynamic member of the Irish community with membership in the following: the Cleveland Feis Society, Irish American Club-East Side, Irish Cultural Gardens, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, United Irish Societies of Greater Cleveland, and the West Side Irish American Club. She has participated in the Cleveland Feis Society as a competitor, stage manager and is currently a member of the Executive Board.

Diligence is just one of Shannon’s many qualities, especially as a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Our Lady of the Rosary Division for many years. She served in leadership roles as Secretary and Treasurer. Additionally, to serving as an Officer, Shannon has chaired various events including the Decorating Committee for the 2021 Ohio Hibernian State Convention in Cleveland and fundraising with the Savor’s Program.

The Murphy Irish Arts Association extremely appreciates Shannon’s organizational skills. Her supervisory role helps the dancers prepare for shows, parades, and competitions. Let it be known part of her popularity with the dance students lies in all the snacks she brings to the events.

As a volunteer for the Cultural Gardens on One World Day in the Irish Garden, she has organized getting baked goods donated, providing games, passport stamps and information about Ireland and Cleveland’s Irish community. No job is too small or too large for Shannon especially with her serving as the Master of Ceremonies on the Main Stage, helping to organize the Parade of Nations and games for the children.

Shannon’s service to the United Irish Societies and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is extremely impressive. Judge Terrence O’Donnell appointed Shannon as a Deputy Director in 1998. She worked on the Line of March for the Parade for more than 20 years and serves as the Official

Photographer of the Parade. Shannon was honored in 2010 as Parade Co-Chair. Proudly following in her dad’s footsteps, she served as Executive Director of the United Irish Societies from 2016-2019.

Shannon is honored to be chosen as the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal and is looking forward to leading the Irish Community down the Avenue.

Mary Murphy Joyce
2025 Irish Mother of the Year

Mary Kathryn Murphy Joyce is the daughter of John E and Mary Jane Conry Murphy. Her parents instilled a sense of deep Irish Pride and Catholic Faith in her and her three brothers, Michael (deceased), Jack and Patrick and her two sisters, Helen and Bridget.

Graduating from Lourdes Academy, Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State University Mary fulfilled her lifelong dream and became a Registered Nurse beginning her career at St. Vincent Charity Hospital, where she was active in her professional union.

Mary had the good fortune of attending a dance at Chanel High School at the age of 16 and met the love of her life Thomas F. Joyce and they married in 1971. Their first child, Peggy, unfortunately passed away at 16 months. It was a difficult time, but with their strong faith they were gifted with four more children, Peter, Dan, Nora and Sheila. The Joyce Family resided in University Heights and provided all their children with a Catholic education as members of Gesu Parish and then on to St. Ignatius and Beaumont. Mary volunteered at Gesu and was an active member of the Carmelite Guild.

Our Lord called Tom home in 1997. Mary embraced the role of a single mother with her faith again as her foundation. She instilled the importance of a good education and strong ethics into her children by her example. Mary retired from Kaiser Permanente after working 25 years in the OB/GYN Department. Her kindness and gentle ways helped many through their pregnancies and surgeries. She was President of her Union and Bargaining Agent for many national contracts. Mary was a Nurse Advocate, a fervent supporter of fair wages and safe working conditions. She was fortunate to have a second job with the challenging and rewarding working with the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Tom and Mary were founding members of the Irish American Club-East Side. She has been an active volunteer at the Fish Fries and an amazing saleswoman of fundraising.

Mary was also a founding member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Deirfiur of Charity Division. She truly lives the LAOH motto of Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity as a volunteer at St. Philomena’s and as Chair of the yearly Fundraising Basket Raffle. Since her retirement, she has worked with the elderly in their homes, helping them to stay independent.

Mary is first and foremost a Mother and takes great pride in her four children and being Grammy to her eight grandchildren: Kathryn, Thomas, Ann, Jack, Mary Helen, Brianna, Cormac and Clara. All of whom are happy and grateful to celebrate Mary on her special day as the 2025 Irish Mother of the Year.

Kathleen "Katie" Schmitt
2025 Inside Co-Chair

Katie is the second of seven children of Chris and Kathleen Cooper. Her siblings are Eileen Reed, Margaret Cavelli, Christopher Jr., Mary Clare Piascsik, Michael and Patricia. Katie married Jason Schmitt and they are the proud parents of Madelyn. She enjoys her role as a new mother, while remaining active in the Irish community.

She attended Holy Cross Grade School in Euclid and Magnificat High School in Rocky River. Katie received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Music in Performance Degrees from Cleveland State University. Katie was Music Director at St. Thomas More Parish and Department Chair and Choral Music Teacher at St. Jospeh Academy for nine years. She is currently the Music Director at her parish, St. John Vianney in Mentor.

Many organizations in this day and age seem to have difficulty finding volunteers that are passionate about their mission. Fortunately, the Irish community found such a volunteer with Katie. She is very zealous with each endeavor she undertakes. She is probably best known for her singing of the National Anthems at the start of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, taking over this duty from Steve Mulloy in 2002. She continues to pay homage to the city’s strong Irish roots by singing the Soldier’s Song in Irish. Once the Anthems are sung and the whistle blown, Katie can then be found marshaling the Parade, ensuring all parade participants and spectators have a wonderful afternoon. Recently, she has spearheaded the selection of judges for the Parade.

Whatever the need, Katie will step in to fill it as she has for several years helping in the Irish Garden and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens One World Day.

While her amazing singing talent is often very notable, Katie has worked behind the scenes and worn many hats elsewhere in the Irish community. She is a member of the Irish American Club-East Side, a Delegate to the United Irish Societies, with the Cleveland Feis Society serving as a stage monitor, musician and currently the Championship Competition Announcer. She was a dancer with the Murphy Irish Arts for twelve years and always willing to share her knowledge and experience with the young Irish dancers. In addition to her Irish involvement, Katie is a member of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and the Cleveland Chapter and the Edgecliff Beach Club where she served as the Secretary of the Board.

Katie is very proud of her Irish Heritage and honored to be the Inside Co-Chair of the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Michael J. Conkey
2025 Outside Co-Chair

Michael J. Conkey grew up in Cleveland Heights in St. Louis Parish, volunteering in many of the Parish’s activities, Mike worked in the Accounting Division of the Cleveland Plain Dealer Publishing Company upon graduating from St. Joseph High School in 1971. While employed he attended school at Cuyahoga Community College. He retired in 2009 after thirty-eight extraordinary years of service with the Plain Dealer.

Mike is a devout husband of forty-one years to his lovely wife Mary. They are the proud parents of Ellen and Tommy. His son Tommy is the founder and owner of Egan Irish Dance Schools in Chesterland and Richfield. The Conkey’s live in Cleveland Heights and are parishioners of the Communion of Saints Parish.

Spending a great deal of time at many a feis and fundraisers for Murphy Irish Arts and the Egan Irish Dance Schools, Mike is well known for his energy as a volunteer. Additionally, he has given much of his time and talents working at the Ohio Celtic and Irish Cultural Festivals. He is a member of the Irish American Club-East Side and the Bluestone Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

A proud supporter of Irish dance, entertainment, and culture, Michael attends and advocates for many events in and around Cleveland. Particularly he has made significant contributions to keep the Irish Cultural Gardens beautiful and one of the best.

The House of Champions, an after-school program for underprivileged children, is grateful to have Mike as one of their enthusiastic volunteers, as is the South Euclid/Lyndhurst Jaycees of which Mike has been a member for over twenty-five years, as well as the St. Vincent de Paul Society. A gentleman and friend to many, he is always available to lend a helping hand whenever and wherever needed. Mike’s motto is “talk to someone for ten minutes and you’ll find a connection”.

Mike is honored to be the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Outside Co-Chair.

Past Honorees

1958

Grand Marshal - John J. O'Malley*

1959

Grand Marshal - Patrick J. O'Malley*

1960

Grand Marshal - John T. English*
Inside Co-Chair - Raymond J. Reilly*
Outside Co-Chair - William F. Chambers*

1961

Grand Marshal - William J. Cannon*
Inside Co-Chair - William T. Monroe
Outside Co-Chair - James P. Conway*

1962

Grand Marshal - Thomas E. McDonald*
Inside Co-Chair - James M. Lynch*
Outside Co-Chair - James J. Lynch*

1963

Grand Marshal - Patrick T. Lynch*
Irish Mother of the Year - Celia Carney*
Inside Co-Chair - Joseph P. Rochford*
Outside Co-Chair - James T. Kilbane*

1964

Grand Marshal - Michael McGlynn*
Irish Mother of the Year - Margaret Spellacy*
Inside Co-Chair - Martin J. Cooney*
Outside Co-Chair - William F. Sweeney

1965

Grand Marshal - Arthur McChrystal*
Irish Mother of the Year - Agnes Chambers*
Inside Co-Chair - Augustine Boland*
Outside Co-Chair - James T. Breslin*

1966

Grand Marshal - James T. Kilbane*
Irish Mother of the Year - Margaret Browne*
Inside Co-Chair - Mary V. McNeeley*
Outside Co-Chair - Ignatius E. McIntyre*

1967

Grand Marshal - James M. Lynch*
Irish Mother of the Year - Catherine Kline*
Inside Co-Chair - Mary E. Reynolds*
Outside Co-Chair - Daniel L. Berry*

1968

Grand Marshal - John E. Ryan*
Irish Mother of the Year - Bridget Boland*
Inside Co-Chair - Eamon D'Arcy*
Outside Co-Chair - Thomas J. Barrett, MD*

1969

Grand Marshal - Thomas Scott*
Irish Mother of the Year - Elizabeth Kenny*
Inside Co-Chair - James E. Murray*
Outside Co-Chair - Hon. Michael A. Sweeney*

1970

Grand Marshal - James J. Boland*
Irish Mother of the Year - Bernadette Murphy*
Inside Co-Chair - Thomas Byrne*
Outside Co-Chair - Thomas Coughlin*

1971

Grand Marshal - Michael B. Comer*
Irish Mother of the Year - Anna Esther Kilbane*
Inside Co-Chair - Mary B. Cook
Outside Co-Chair - Thomas F. Campbell, PhD*

1972

Grand Marshal - Patrick T. Duffy*
Irish Mother of the Year - Beatrice Lynch*
Inside Co-Chair - Patrick J. O'Malley*
Outside Co-Chair - Canon Liam J. Kitt*

1973

Grand Marshal - Hon. George J. McMonagle*
Irish Mother of the Year - Mary Reynolds*
Inside Co-Chair - Patrick W. O'Malley*
Outside Co-Chair - James B. Mooney

1974

Grand Marshal - John P. McNea*
Irish Mother of the Year - Anna Sweeney*
Inside Co-Chair - Ralph Connor*
Outside Co-Chair - James W. McGorray*

1975

Grand Marshal - Patrick J. Byrnes*
Irish Mother of the Year - Anna Rita Kilbane*
Inside Co-Chair - Oliver E. Murphy*
Outside Co-Chair - William J. Kiernan*

1976

Grand Marshal - James M. Carney*
Irish Mother of the Year - Delia McIntyre*
Inside Co-Chair - Edward J. Campbell*
Outside Co-Chair - Patrick J. Gallagher*

1977

Grand Marshal - Thomas F. McManamon Sr.
Outside Co-Chair - Peter D. Corrigan, MD*
Inside Co-Chair - Frank M. Sheehan*

1978

Grand Marshal - Patrick J. McGeever*
Irish Mother of the Year - Delia Gibbons*
Inside Co-Chair - Maura Dowdall
Outside Co-Chair - John J. Gill

1979

Grand Marshal - Bryan Kilbane (In Memoriam)*
Irish Mother of the Year - Loretta Prendergast*
Inside Co-Chair - Margaret Mylett
Outside Co-Chair - James P. Reynolds*

1980

Grand Marshal - Oliver E. Murphy*
Irish Mother of the Year - Mary Howard O'Malley*
Inside Co-Chair - Thomas J. Reynolds*
Outside Co-Chair - Hon. Ann McManamon

1981

Grand Marshal - Canon Liam J. Kitt*
Irish Mother of the Year - Nora Hastings*
Inside Co-Chair - John Coyne*
Outside Co-Chair - Hon. John V. Corrigan*

1982

Grand Marshal - Martin L. McLaughlin*
Irish Mother of the Year - Beatrice McIntyre*
Inside Co-Chair - Michael G. Lavelle*
Outside Co-Chair - John P. Coyne

1983

Grand Marshal - Michael McGarry*
Irish Mother of the Year - Anne Grey*
Inside Co-Chair - Edmund P. Byrne*
Outside Co-Chair - Terrence Joyce*

1984

Grand Marshal - John T. Patton Sr.*
Irish Mother of the Year - Mary Terese Hurley*
Inside Co-Chair - Deneen C. O'Reilly
Outside Co-Chair - Leo P. D'Arcy*

1985

Grand Marshal - John O'Neill*
Irish Mother of the Year - Ursula Lynch*
Inside Co-Chair - Patrick T. Murphy
Outside Co-Chair - John O'Brien

1986

Grand Marshal - Michael Roddy*
Irish Mother of the Year - Mary O'Neill*
Inside Co-Chair - Eileen A. Reynolds
Outside Co-Chair - Kevin W. Reynolds

1987

Grand Marshal - Thomas McCaffrey*
Irish Mother of the Year - Hanna Byrnes*
Inside Co-Chair - Daniel M. Corcoran*
Outside Co-Chair - John F. McGarry

1988

Grand Marshal - Owen R. Quinn*
Irish Mother of the Year - Bridget Birney*
Inside Co-Chair - Walter J. McNally
Outside Co-Chair - Richard A. Walton

1989

Grand Marshal - Hon. Gerald T. McFaul
Irish Mother of the Year - Angela Kerrigan*
Inside Co-Chair - Stephen L. Mulloy*
Outside Co-Chair - Roger S. Weist*

1990

Grand Marshal - James P. Reynolds*
Irish Mother of the Year - Noreen Garriga
Inside Co-Chair - Margaret A. Lackey
Outside Co-Chair - Sean Anthony Boland*

1991

Grand Marshal - John B. Quinn*
Irish Mother of the Year - Kathleen Cooney*
Inside Co-Chair - Peter B. Hannon
Outside Co-Chair - Thomas O'Neill*

1992

Grand Marshal - Terry Joyce*
Irish Mother of the Year - Bette Berry*
Inside Co-Chair - Robert E. Hearns*
Outside Co-Chair - John Togher*

1993

Grand Marshal - Alphonsus O'Leary
Irish Mother of the Year - Julia Burke*
Inside Co-Chair - Thomas J. Ross*
Outside Co-Chair - Helen C. Malloy

1994

Grand Marshal - Thomas Byrne*
Irish Mother of the Year - Nora Jordan*
Inside Co-Chair - Marilyn Madigan
Outside Co-Chair - John J. Hennessy*

1995

Grand Marshal - Edward Campbell*
Irish Mother of the Year - Pauline Gallagher*
Inside Co-Chair - Rita Lally
Outside Co-Chair - Paul Gallagher*

1996

Grand Marshal - Thomas Ross*
Irish Mother of the Year - Eileen Hennessy*
Inside Co-Chair - Toby Haffey*
Outside Co-Chair - John Campbell*

1997

Grand Marshal - Joseph Boland*
Irish Mother of the Year - Mary Celine O'Leary
Inside Co-Chair - James Kilbane
Outside Co-Chair - Dennis Dunn*

1998

Grand Marshal - Patrick T. Kilbane*
Irish Mother of the Year - Mae Moore Keenan*
Inside Co-Chair - Bonnie K. McNally
Outside Co-Chair - Sr. Maureen Burke SND

1999

Grand Marshal - Raymond "Rip" Reilly*
Irish Mother of the Year - Mary Kilbane*
Inside Co-Chair - John J. Togher
Outside Co-Chair - Fr. J. Brendan McNulty

2000

Grand Marshal - William Chambers*
Irish Mother of the Year - Nora Carr*
Inside Co-Chair - Linda Carney
Outside Co-Chair - James McGuirk

2001

Grand Marshal - Lonnie McCauley*
Irish Mother of the Year - Sara McLaughlin*
Inside Co-Chair - Bridie Joyce
Outside Co-Chair - Bridget Boland*

2002

Grand Marshal - Frank Sheehan*
Irish Mother of the Year - Mary Hastings-McCluskey
Inside Co-Chair - Tom Kilbane
Outside Co-Chair - Pat Dowd

2003

Grand Marshal - Eamonn D'Arcy*
Irish Mother of the Year - Mary O'Donnell Hayes*
Inside Co-Chair - Rasa M. Chambers
Outside Co-Chair - Harry Simon*

2004

Grand Marshal - James Patrick Caffrey*
Irish Mother of the Year - Anne O'Donnell Mulloy*
Inside Co-Chair - Frank Hoban*
Outside Co-Chair - Nell Buckley*

2005

Grand Marshal - Helen Malloy
Irish Mother of the Year - Patricia Campbell*
Inside Co-Chair - Linda Hannon
Outside Co-Chair - Kevin McGinty*

2006

Grand Marshal - Bill Carney*
Irish Mother of the Year - Joan Cavanaugh*
Inside Co-Chair - Ed Morrow*
Outside Co-Chair - Gerald Quinn

2007

Grand Marshal - Stephen L. Mulloy*
Irish Mother of the Year - Mary Ellen Boland*
Inside Co-Chair - Mary Alice Fitzgerald
Outside Co-Chair - Kathy Whitford

2008

Grand Marshal - John Campbell*
Irish Mother of the Year - Kathleen Hough*
Inside Co-Chair - Michael Keenan
Outside Co-Chair - Norine Hastings

2009

Grand Marshal - Tom Reynolds*
Irish Mother of the Year - Shirley Chambers*
Inside Co-Chair - Maire Leffel
Outside Co-Chair - Fr. James P. O'Donnell

2010

Grand Marshal - John Hayes*
Irish Mother of the Year - Bonnie McNally
Inside Co-Chair - Shannon Corcoran
Outside Co-Chair - Fr. Thomas Johns

2011

Grand Marshal - Gerry Quinn
Irish Mother of the Year - Kathleen Lackey Sheehan
Inside Co-Chair - Sheila Murphy Crawford
Outside Co-Chair - Fr. Thomas Mahoney

2012

Grand Marshal - Walter J. "Mickey" McNally
Irish Mother of the Year - Vera Casey*
Inside Co-Chair - Una O'Leary Escolas
Outside Co-Chair - William G. Chambers

2013

Grand Marshal - Kevin McGinty*
Irish Mother of the Year - Una Ellis*
Inside Co-Chair - Timothy Leahy
Outside Co-Chair - Daniel B. Chambers

2014

Grand Marshal - Andy Dever
Irish Mother of the Year - Bridie Joyce
Inside Co-Chair - John O'Brien Jr.
Outside Co-Chair - Mark Owens

2015

Grand Marshal - Daniel M. Corcoran*
Irish Mother of the Year - Patricia Hollywood
Inside Co-Chair - Maire O'Leary Manning
Outside Co-Chair - Fr. Bob Begin*

2016

Grand Marshal - Jack Coyne
Irish Mother of the Year - Bridget McIntyre
Inside Co-Chair - John Myers
Outside Co-Chair - Teresa Reilly Kowalski

2017

Grand Marshal - Roger S. Weist*
Irish Mother of the Year - Angela Murphy*
Inside Co-Chair - Margaret Lynch
Outside Co-Chair - John Patrick Lackey

2018

Grand Marshal - Sheila Murphy Crawford
Irish Mother of the Year - Joan (Hartnett) Reali
Inside Co-Chair - Noreen Halley
Outside Co-Chair - Linda Burke

2019

Grand Marshal - William "Bill" Homan
Irish Mother of the Year - Eileen Kilroy
Inside Co-Chair - Patti Maher Hanrahan
Outside Co-Chair - Sr. Corita Ambro

2020

Grand Marshal - Thomas J. Scanlon*
Irish Mother of the Year - Kathleen Mangan
Inside Co-Chair - Maureen Mohney
Outside Co-Chair - Christopher Cooper

2021

No New Honorees Selected

2022

Grand Marshal - Thomas F. McManamon Jr.
Irish Mother of the Year - Rita Lally
Inside Co-Chair - Patricia Coleman Lavelle
Outside Co-Chair - Eileen Mangan Stull

2023

Grand Marshal - Michael F. "Mickey" Coyne
Irish Mother of the Year - Bridget Conway
Inside Co-Chair - Maureen Cavanaugh
Outside Co-Chair - Kevin McDonough

2024

Grand Marshal - Patrick T. Murphy
Irish Mother of the Year - Patricia Homan
Inside Co-Chair - David J. McLaughlin
Outside Co-Chair - Fr. Francis Walsh

*Past Honoree Has Been Called Home

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Honorees

Shannon M. Corcoran2025 Grand Marshal

Mary Murphy Joyce2025 Irish Mother of the Year

Kathleen "Katie" Schmitt2025 Inside Co-Chair

Michael J. Conkey2025 Outside Co-Chair

Shannon M. Corcoran
2025 Grand Marshal

Mary Murphy Joyce
2025 Irish Mother of the Year

Kathleen "Katie" Schmitt
2025 Inside Co-Chair

Michael J. Conkey
2025 Outside Co-Chair