St. Patrick's Day Parade
12:30 pm, Saturday, March
14, 2009 On 4th Ave from Jefferson, downtown Seattle
GRAND MARSHAL
Don O'Neill
The 2009 St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal is Don O’Neill, co-host of the Ron & Don Show on KIRO Radio (3-7 pm, 97.3 FM or 710 AM), Seattle's top-rated afternoon radio program. Don O’Neill is a worthy representative of one of Ireland’s most illustrious families. According to a Trinity College Dublin study, 1 in 12 Irishmen (and many Scotsmen) share the same Y chromosome, which suggests they are all descended from the same 5th-century High-King of Ireland called Niall Naoighiallach or Niall of the Nine Hostages. All O’Neills trace their lineage to him, and even in the US over 46,000 people share that O’Neill surname. Don's g-grandfather was one of those O'Neills who left Ireland in the late 1800s and Don himself was born in Chicago. While growing up and attending high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Don met Ron Upshaw (who happens to be of Scottish ancestry) and their life long friendship turned into 'The Ron & Don Show.' Seattle is where Don came to attend The University of Washington and he says, “This is this most beautiful place on Earth!" Don is also involved in the community at large. He has pedaled his bike across America several times to raise money for makingmemories.org, the Breast Cancer Foundation. Don's Mom has battled breast cancer and this charity organization is very important to him. When he’s not doing his Radio show, you'll find Don at the gym, on a spin bike, at a great restaurant downtown, or pedaling down the road on his road bike. However, on March 14, you'll find Don leading the St. Patrick's Day Parade along 4th Ave in downtown Seattle. We’re excited and honored to have Don O’Neill as Grand Marshal of the 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
HONORARY GRAND MARSHALS
Tara Connor & Liam Boyle
Liam Boyle was born in Belfast in 1948, one of 11 children. The entire Boyle family participated in Irish sports, and Gaelic football and Hurling have been Liam’s passion since he was old enough to walk. In 1969, he captained the Antrim U-21 Gaelic Football team which won the All-Ireland Championship, and he has participated as a player, coach and manager of Gaelic Football and Hurling teams in Belfast and later in Seattle. He first played football with the Seattle Gaels in 1984 when he spent the summer visiting Seattle. In Belfast, he was also a community activist and graduated from Queen’s University with a degree in Celtic studies and Politics. In 1984, Liam met his future wife, Tara Connor, when she was in Ireland visiting relatives. Tara’s maternal grandparents were from Roscommon while her paternal ancestors were from Cavan. Tara grew up in New York deeply involved in Irish dance, music and literature. She moved to Belfast in 1985 to pursue further education and graduated with a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Ulster while also working in the mental health system in County Down. Liam and Tara married in 1991 and within a few years had two children, Sorcha and Declan, both of whom have grown up deeply immersed in Irish culture. In 1997, the family moved to the Seattle area where both Tara and Liam have siblings. In the twelve years since then, both Liam and Tara have been very involved in organizing and promoting Irish activities in the Seattle area, especially Gaelic Football and Hurling, and the Irish language. Liam is currently Youth Development Officer for the Seattle Gaels and also teaches classes in the Irish language. Tara has been working with Plymouth Housing Group for 12 years, a group dedicated to ending the homeless crisis in the Seattle area. Because of their immense contributions to the promotion of Irish culture in the Seattle area over the past 12 years, Liam and Tara are being honored as Honorary Grand Marshals of Seattle’s 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
SPECIAL GUEST FROM IRELAND
Ireland's Attorney General Paul Gallagher, SC
Paul Gallagher is Ireland’s
Attorney General and as such
is the legal adviser to the Irish
Government and the chief law
officer of the Irish State. Born in
Co. Kerry in 1955, he was educated
by the Irish Christian Brothers at
Tralee CBS, and he also attended
Castleknock College in Dublin.
He obtained his Civil Law Degree in 1975 from University
College Dublin and his Barrister at Law Degree in 1976 from
the King’s Inns Dublin.
He also studied at Cambridge University England and holds
degrees in law, history and economics. He was first admitted
to practice at the Irish Bar as a Junior Counsel in 1979 and
as Senior Counsel in 1991. He was a university lecturer in
contract law and a lecturer in the King’s Inns in commercial
law, and was formerly Chairman of the Irish Sports Council
Anti-Doping Disciplinary Tribunal. He has served as Ireland’s
representative on the Arbitration and Conciliation Panels of the
International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
He was appointed Ireland’s Attorney General in June 2007 and
was re-appointed last May. We extend a sincere welcome to
him on his first visit to Seattle.
