Grand Marshall - John Campbell
Irish Mother of the Year - Kathleen Hough
Co-Chair - Norine Hastings
Co-Chair - Michael Keenan
Past Honorees

The Delegates of the United Irish Societies are honored to select John Campbell as the 2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal.

John Campbell was born in Dorriel, Ballycroy, County Mayo on February 28, 1935. He is one of 10 children of the late Thomas and Nora Cafferkey Campbell. He attended Drumslide National School in Ballycroy and St. Muirdach's College in Ballina, County Mayo.

John worked on the family farm and did odd jobs while living in Ballycroy. He also spent his summers working in England before permanently moving to the United States in 1957. Upon arriving in Cleveland, he began working construction and became a member of the West Side Irish American Club.

It is through his time at the West Side Irish American Club that he met his wife Patricia Mannion. On February 20, 1960, they were married at Immaculate Conception Church. They are the proud parents of 10: Kathleen, John, Mary, Kevin, James, Ann, Noreen, Patricia, Sheila and Brigid and proud grandparents of 16. The Campbells moved to the east side in 1972 and are active members of Holy Cross Parish in Euclid. John worked at Lincoln Electric for 31 years until his retirement in 1997. In 1982, he became a proprietor of the Pride of Erin Tavern on Lorain Ave with his best friend Bart Leneghan and currently owns the establishment with his son James.

John has always been very proud of his Irish heritage. In the 1960's, he was Treasurer of the West Side Irish American Club. He is a founding and Charter member of the Irish American Club East Side. He was also involved with the revitalizations of the Cleveland Chapter of Irish Northern Aid. Currently, he is a member of the Irish Northern Aid, the Irish American Club East Side, the Irish Heritage Club, the Mayo Society of Cleveland and the West Side Irish American Club. John has always encouraged his family to be active members of the Irish Community in Cleveland. This tradition is being carried on to the next generation. In 2007, his granddaughter Katie Cooper sang the National Anthems for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. John was honored as the 1996 St Patrick's Day Parade Co-Chairs. In 2002, Irish Northern Aid honored him for his exemplary work and dedication to the organization. In 2005, he was proud that his wife Patricia was honored as the Irish Mother of the Year. John can be found in attendance at a variety of events and activities supporting all Irish Clubs in the city always with a smile and a friendly handshake.

The Delegates of the United Irish Societies are honored to select Kay Hough as the 2008 Irish Mother of the Year.

Kathleen Lynch Hough was born on September 30, 1940 to James and Ursula McGuire Lynch. She graduated from Holy Name High School in 1959. In August 1966, she married James P. Hough, who is now a retired Cleveland Firefighter. During their 41 years of marriage, they were blessed with four children: Mary Catherine, Patrick(married to Katie Harkness), Sheila(married to Patrick Cooney) and Maureen and five grandchildren: Seamus, Meghan, Moira, Mary Clare and Shannon.

Kay worked as a teacher's aide for special needs children at the Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation for 25 years. While her children were growing up, she was involved in their many activities which included many different CYO sporting events, Irish dancing lessons, Feis and marching practices with the West Side Irish American Club. She also found time to volunteer for groups she holds close to her heart whci include: St. Mel's Altar & Rosary Society, where she served as President and as a teacher for 35 years at St. Patrick's West Park Special Ed CCD. She also created a committee which she chaired for her brother Fr. James Lynch, a Maryknoll Missionary to raise funds for his work in El Salvador. The committee's first event raised over $100,000 which helped with the construction of a Church in San Salvador, El Salvador.

She served as the Treasurer of the West Side Irish American Club for 10 years and served on many committees for the Club such as the Inaugural New Years Eve Dinner Dance. Along with Kay Forrey created the Women's Only Reverse Raffle which she chaired for 14 years. The Reverse Raffle continues to be a major fundraiser for the Club. She was instrumental in starting a Trim a Tree Party which has the members of the Club participate in decorating the Club for the holidays. The event truly represents the spirit of the season by encouraging all who attend to bring a gift to share with needy children in the Cleveland area. She also served as the Treasurer of the Ohio Irish Festival.

She has been a long time volunteer for the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival. She ias an active member of the Mayo Society and volunteers for their annual Tea. Kay is currently a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mel Church where she has been an active member for nearly 40 years. Kay is a loving wife, mother and grandmother who always puts her heart and soul into all that she does.

Co-Chair
Norine Hastings

Norine Hastings' Irish roots go back to her parents, Nora (Conway) Hastings from Tourmakeady, County Mayo, and Thomas Hastings from Wesport, County Mayo. Norine was born and raised in East Cleveland with her sister, Mary and brothers, Tom and Frank. She attended St. Philomena's Grade School and Ursuline Academy of the Sacred Heart. She continued her education receiving her Master's Degree in Administration from Saint John College in Cleveland. Norine then went on to teach at St. Robert's and St. Charles grade schools, Beaumont High School, and currently teaches mathematics at East Technical High School in Cleveland where she has also served as chairperson for the department.

As a child, Norine learned many Irish dances from her mother and also took step dancing from Kevin Shanahan. In later years, she danced with the Cleveland Gaelic Society dancers. Norine has continued her love and interest in Irish dancing and dances with the set dancers on both the east and west side. While her love of dancing plays a major part in her life, she is also interested in other Irish activities. For over twenty years, Norine performed with the Cleveland Irish Players. With that group, she performed in plays in Ireland, Pittsburgh, Marietta and in Cleveland. She has served as past editor of "The Schanachie", the newsletter for the Irish American Club - East Side and has volunteered her time working in the kitchen for the Padraic Pearse Craft Show, and working on the committee for the Irish Summerfest. She is currently a member of the Irish American Club - East Side, the West Side Irish American Club, the Irish Heritage Center, and the Cleveland Ceili Club.

In 1961, Norine joined her sister and her cousins in the Ladies Drill Team at the West Side Irish American Club. Except for a few years, she continued to march with that drill team until 1987, when she became the first leader of the Ladies Drill Team at the Irish American Club - East Side. Norine and her sister, Mary McCluskey, who leads the Ladies Drill Team at the West Side Irish American Club, continued a friendly rivalry on St. Patrick's Day for twenty years. They would travel back and forth helping each other prepare for the big month of March. In 2006, the Irish American Club – East Side honored Norine by naming her "Member of the Year".

Norine was a resident of Euclid and St. Christine parish for many years and 2 years ago moved to North Ridgeville and is now a member of St. Clarence parish in North Olmsted. She keeps her passport current and continues to travel back to the east side to visit her family which includes 6 nieces, 3 nephews, 5 great-nephews and 2 great-nieces.

Co-Chair
Michael Keenan

Michael Keenan was born in July of 1962 to his parents, both Irish immigrants, Joseph from French Park, County Roscommon and Mary from Wesport, County Mayo. Mike joined his siblings, Mary, Patrick, Thomas, Theresa and was later followed by his brother Kevin. Michael grew up in Cleveland Heights and attended St. Ann's School, Roxboro Junior High and Cleveland Heights High School.

A long time member of the West Side Irish American Club, Mike started with the Fife and Drum Corps in 1969 and marched in his first St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1971. Mike was an original member of the Colonial Boys Fife and Drum Corps and remained with them until the unit was disbanded. He then joined the Senior Fife and Drum Corp and continues to practice with the unit and perform at various functions. He was also active with The Ohio Irish Festival Committee and worked on the security and parking committees for the first eight years of that festival.

In 1984, Mike joined the Fife and Drum Corp at the Irish American Club East Side, Inc. assisting Jack McDonough instructing with fife lessons and drum lessons. The Fife and Drum Corp was eventually renamed the Jack McDonough Fife and Drum Corp upon Jack's untimely passing in 1990. Since that time Mike has proudly served as the leader of the corp and continues to lead the group today. As Mike became more active in the East Side Club he began serving on various committees, and was elected to the Executive Board several times including one term as Vice President and was then honored as the club's Member of the Year in 2003. Mike was also an original member of the Pipes and Drums of the Irish American Club East Side and currently is the Drum Sergeant of the band. Mike has been an active volunteer with the Irish Summerfest since its inception assisting with parking, and coordinating shuttles for band members to and from the festival. He is also a "master baker" helping to prepare Irish breads not only for the festival but also for the Padraic Pearse Center of the east side club.

Michael began to attend the meetings of the United Irish Societies at the CPPA hall and was in attendance when his mother Mary (Mae) Keenan was voted Irish mother of the Year in 1998. Mike was appointed as an alternate delegate for the Irish American Club East Side, Inc. and became a delegate in 2001. He served in that capacity until 2007. In early 2007 Mike was appointed the position of Deputy Director and currently assists with parade pin distribution as well as organizing the annual parade awards banquet.