Grand Marshall - John Hayes
Irish Mother of the Year - Bonnie McNally
Co-Chair - Shannon Corcoran
Co-Chair - Fr. Tom Johns
Past Honorees

The Delegates of the United Irish Societies are honored to select John Hayes as the 2010 St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal.

John Hayes has been an active member of the Irish community since coming to Cleveland in 1957. He is the oldest of seven children of William and Julia Sugrue Hayes of Doorah, Masterguihy near Waterville, County Kerry, Ireland.

John left Ireland for to England to find work at the sugar beet factories. He then went on to learn the trade of "steel fixing." In 1956, he emigrated to Canada but only stayed a short while after learning of the opportunities in the United States. In March of 1957, he and a good friend left for Chicago where they knew there was a good Irish population. They stopped along the way in Cleveland, where work was quite plentiful for ironworkers. One of the first Irish gathering places they found was the West Side Irish American Club. It was here that John first met his wife, Mary O'Donnell. They were married on October 4, 1958, they celebrated their 50th Anniversary with Mass at the West Side Irish American Club's Gazebo. They were fortunate enough to have Mary's cousin, Fr. Jim O'Donnell preside at both ceremonies.

John is an active member of the Irish Community with membership in both the West Side Irish American Club and the Irish American Club East Side. It was important for John and Mary to preserve and uphold their Irish culture and Catholic Faith. In the early days, it was organizing benefit dances for, the Irish Pallottine Missions, volunteering at the West Side Irish American Club, bringing their 6 sons to the Club for Fife practices and traveling to Feisanna across the Mid West to watch their sons dance. They raised their family in the West Park area and were active members of St. Patrick West Park Parish.

John was actively involved with the West Side Irish American Club's move from Madison Avenue to the current location in Olmsted Falls. He volunteered on many construction projects at the club. One of his favorite projects was building the bridge on the Club's grounds from the island in the shape of Ireland to the main land. He was a volunteer for the Ohio Irish Festivals and served two terms on the Club's Board of Trustees. Although slowing down recently, John continues to support Irish events across the Cleveland area.

John was an ironworker for Local #17 until his retirement in 1988. He was named the West Side Irish American Club's Man of the Year in 1992, the same year his wife Mary was the Woman of the Year. Today, John's favorite pastimes include playing "25" at the Club and attending events at both the West Side Irish American Club and the Irish American Club East Side.

John and Mary have 6 sons: Bill and Cheri(Gura), Michael and Joan(Phalen), John and Marilyn(Lapp), Pat and Sharon(Mog), Jim and Lucy(Horan) and Kevin and Jodi(Murphy). The Hayes are the proud grandparents of 12; Kelsey, Sean, Colin , Brigid Kimbrell, Tim, Patrick, Kelly, Brigid, Dean, Meghan, John and Darcy and 2 great grandchildren Mairead and Aoife.

John has always been a soft spoken man whose actions speak loud and strong, His work ethic and tireless dedication to the Cleveland Irish community over the past 5 decades speaks volumes to the strength of his character, with quiet fortitude and gritty determination, he has been a "rock" in the Irish community helping to shape its present and its future. All of his sons are members of the West side Irish American Club and have volunteered their time in various capacities all the way from serving on the Board of Trustees to simply cleaning up after an event All of his sons have marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade as junior fifers, Colonial Boys and Senior Fifer. In fact, his oldest son Bill is the leader of the Senior Fife and Drum Corps. His grandchildren also carry on the Irish traditions through their involvement with Gaelic football, Irish dance, and of course, all twelve have marched down the avenue with their "Pop-Pop" on St. Patrick's Day.

The Delegates of the United Irish Societies are honored to select Bonnie McNally as the 2010 Irish Mother of the Year.

Bonnie was born on July 22, 1942 to Ed and Millie Scott. She and her younger sister Shirley grew up in Lyndhurst Ohio. Bonnie graduated from Brush High School in 1960, and upon graduation started working at St. John College, where she was secretary to the Dean of Nursing.

Now, as the story goes, back in 1964, in the parking lot of the Interlude Lounge, Bonnie met her husband to be Walter "Mickey" McNally. A little bit of a rocky start, but as fate would have it, they were engaged three months later and married in St. Gregory the Great Church in August of 1965. Bonnie and Mickey became the parents of two loving daughters, Beth and Amy. Dr Beth McNally is now doing research at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Amy is married to Tom Gallagher, whom she met at the Irish American Club, East Side and they have four beautiful children, Kaeli, Reilly, Molly, and Padraic. Her grandkids lovingly call her "Ma" and they are the lights of her life. She loves having them sleep over and spoiling them and going on family vacations. She also enjoys watching them Irish Dance, play soccer, softball and wrestle.

Through the years, Bonnie owned and operated the Country Gift Box in Chesterland Ohio, she also worked as an Inside Saleswomen at the Donray Co. and was Benefits Coordinator for the State of Ohio for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union.

Bonnie's motto has always been; don't complain, get involved, do your share and never forget family comes first.

Wanting to be involved with her children and their activities as they grew up, Bonnie became active in the Mayfield Schools and her community of Highland Hts. She served at President of their Preschool, was PTA President and Treasurer of their elementary school and Middle School and Secretary at the High School. She was also active on the Mayfield Schools Coordinating Council, and chaired school levy campaigns in Highland Hts. Bonnie was the Girl Scout Troop Organizer for Highland Hts. and was the leader of several Girl Scout and Brownie Troops. She was appointed to the Highland Hts. Park and Recreation Commission, serving as their Secretary for 13 years. Bonnie and Mickey also hosted many AFS students in their home, and Bonnie was honored as person of the week in her local Sun Paper.

A charter member of the Irish American Club East Side, Bonnie became active from the very beginning. She was founding editor of the Club's Newsletter the Schanachie. The committee met at her home every Thursday night and as they came from work Bonnie always had a pot of soup or stew ready for them for dinner. Bonnie has served on the Executive Board several times as both At-Large Member and Secretary, and was also the Club's publicist for many years. She has chaired many events and volunteers on committees whenever needed. Bonnie and her husband Mickey were very honored to be named Members of the Year in 2000.

A strong supporter of the Irish Community, she has volunteered at many events including the Cleveland Feis and the Irish Summerfest. Bonnie is a member of the West Side Irish American Club, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Irish Cultural Festival Committee and the Padraic Pearse Center, where she currently serves as their Secretary. Bonnie is a Deputy Director of the United Irish Societies, St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee where she has been a Delegate, Assistant Executive Director, Treasurer and Secretary. In 1998 Bonnie was proud to have been selected as the United Irish Societies Inside Co-Chairman.

Bonnie and Mickey and have lived in Highland Hts. for 38 years and are members of St. Paschal Baylon Parish where Bonnie was on the Christ Renews his Parish Committee. They feel privileged for having had the opportunity to care for Bonnie's mom and dad and having Granny live with them for five years.

Bonnie genuinely believes in the strength of a good family and is blessed to have always had the love and support of her family, and her extended family in the Irish community.

Co-Chair
Shannon Corcoran

Shannon was born in Toledo Ohio to Dan and Diana Corcoran, the family moved to Bay Village Ohio where she and her sister Chris were raised. Shannon attended St. Raphael's Grade School. and Magnificat High School. While in high school Shannon was an AFS exchange student, spending a year studying at Colegio Santa Ursula in Santiago Chile. Shannon went on to attend Bowling Green State University where she again had the opportunity to travel and study abroad. She attended the Universidad of Alcala de Henares in Spain for one year through Bowling Green's Academic Year Abroad program. She was also a member of the Greater Cleveland AFS Council for over 10 years, serving as the council's secretary for 4 years.

Shannon danced with the Burke School of Irish dancing for 13 years. Her love of Irish dance and her Irish heritage led her to become member of the Greater Cleveland Feis Society, where she was a member for over 10 years. For most of her years on the Feis Committee Shannon coordinated the Championship Stage.

Knowing her organizational abilities, Shannon's dad Dan, got her involved with the United Irish Societies of Greater Cleveland, St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee. For their work on the Committee, she and her dad jointly received the Director's Cup in 1997. Shannon was named a Deputy Director on the Committee in 1998. Her duties on the Parade Committee have been many. In past years she has helped with both the Guarantor Book and the Banquet Program. For many years she has handled the Unit Coordination and the Line of March, and worked with the media and the live broadcast coordination with Time Warner.

Along with the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, Shannon is also a member of The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Co-Chair
Father Tom Johns

Fr. Tom Johns is the Pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Mentor, Ohio . Prior to this he served as an Associate Pastor at St. JohnVianney and St. Gabriels in Mentor. He also served as a member of the Faculty at Borremeo Seminary.

Fr. Tom Johns grew up in Willowick, Ohio as a member of St. Mary Magdalene Parish. He attended Borremeo High School, Borremeo College and St. Mary's Seminary. He was ordained in 1978 and recently celebrated his 30th Anniversary of his ordination.

Fr. Johns traces his roots to Arranmore a small island in County Donegal. He has had the good fortune to visit family. He was surprised on his first visit when he knocked on the door of a small house, was welcomed in to discover his ordination picture held a place of honor in the household. Fr. Tom has reciprocated the hospitality shown to him by hosting family members who have visited America. In addition to visiting Ireland on his own, Fr. Tom has joined Fr. Carlin in sponsoring trips to Ireland in order to allow parishioners to share his pride of his Irish roots.

Fr. Tom Johns is very generous with his service to the Irish American community and has celebrated many liturgies on St. Patrick's Day and other activities at the Irish American Club East Side or specifically for members where there is a need. His generous gift of service to others extends not only to his parish and to the Irish community but also for those in need. Fr. Tom is a cancer survivor and so he has a special sensitivity to those who are sick. He recently awarded the American Cancer Society Lane Adams Quality of Life Award as recognition of his willingness to assist others facing cancer by giving them a shoulder to lean on through prayer and hope.

Fr. Tom is proud of his values that his Irish heritage represents and wants to see these values passed on for future generations. He admired how Fr. Flynn celebrated these values through the Emerald Ball and Holley and when his celebration came to an end, Fr. Tom formed a committee to start a similar celebration of the East Side of Cleveland- The Celtic Ball. One of the elements of the Celtic Ball is honor individuals each year who represent faith, family and community. 21010 will mark the 7th Annual Celtic Ball and Hooley celebration. Proceeds from the Ball help to promote Catholic education ant to support the outreach efforts of St. Joh Vianney Parish.

This year has been designated a “The Year of the Priest" and the United Irish Societies ares proud to honor one of our own Priests as one of the Co-Chairs of the St. Patrick's Day Parade.