Nollaig Shona Duit

Deacon Tom Costello – Chaplain
Michael Byrne – President
Sean O’Rourke – Vice President
Timothy Myles – Recording Secretary
William McGough – Financial Secretary
John M. Ryan – Treasurer
Peter Begley – Standing Committee
Richard O’Neill – Marshal
Ken Ferguson – Sentinel

And Our National and State Officers
John C. O’Connell – National Editor, NY State District 6 Director
James J. Burke – NY State Vice President
John M. Ryan – NY State Veteran Affairs
Joseph McDonald – NY State Internet Communications

The County Convention shall consist of County Officers, elective and appointive as per Nassau County by-laws and the President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer of each division, whose financial obligations to National, State, and County shall have been paid up and settled at least 15 days before that set for the convention, National Officers as per Secs. 1 and 2 of Article VIII, National Constitution, State Officers as per Secs. 3 and 4, Article VIII, National Constitution, past State and National Presidents and all past County Presidents who are bona fide members of the County and are in good standing in their respective Divisions. Each Division shall elect (5) alternates, but no person can be chosen as an alternate who has not been a member in good standing for at least six months prior to his election as an alternate.

Each Division shall be entitled to one additional delegate for every twenty-five members in good standing or major fraction thereof, over the first fifty members, based on the Annual Report of the December 31st preceding. All attendees must have 2011 AOH membership card for admittance to the convention.

Election of County Board Officers will take place as well as voting on any changes in by-laws and any resolutions or nominations for National Life Membership. All elected and appointed officers are expected to submit written reports of their activities for the past two years.

“All Divisions shall have their Division Charter at the convention and have ceremonial bunting if a member has passed away since the last convention”

Michael Byrne, President
Sean O’Rourke, Vice President
Tim Myles, Recording Secretary
Ed McGlade. Financial Secretary
Jim Burke, Convention Chairman

King, a member of Division 7, who also serves as their treasurer, seemed thrilled as the Nassau County Board and divisions marched up Fifth Avenue.

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John was born in the Bronx the eldest of four with his brother George, and sisters Maureen and Sheila.  His mother Julia was born in County Mayo in 1900 and died in 2008 making her the oldest Mayo woman at the time.  His father, Eli, was born in Newfoundland and lived to be 89 years,

John attended Christopher Columbus High School.  After graduation, John served two years in the US Navy.  He then went onto work for GMAC for 32 years as a Special Collections Manager.  John is a 3^rd and 4^th Degree Knight in the K of C, and is an usher and Eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Mercy RC Church and Central Island Healthcare.  He is also a member of the Holy Name Society.

John joined AOH Division 7 in 1990.  He has served as President of that division and is currently Financial Secretary.  John also serves on the Nassau County Board as Political Education Chair and sends emails daily to all the divisions.  John attends all meetings, parades, marches, and pro-life rallys in the NY area, Albany, and Washington DC.  John is a active member of the Nassau County AOH Feis Committee raising funds for the commemorative journal.

John lost his first wife Mary to cancer and is married to his wife Geraldine for 34 years and have three married sons, John, Jack, and Joseph.  They have one granddaughter, Keira.  He considers it a great honor to be selected as an Aide to the Grand Marshal, Mary Higgins Clark.

Below are pictures from the day.

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A member of Division 8 since 1953, Jim has served as Divisional  President, Vice President, Recording Secretary and Marshal.

He was born in Glen Cove on July 9, 1933 to Peter McCabe from Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan and Mary Ellen McCabe (nee Moran) from New York City.  The oldest of six children, James graduated from St. Patrick’s School in Glen Cove. And then attended St. Michael’s High School in Conesus, NY, a prep school for the missionary Brothers of the Society of the Divine Word (S.V.D.) for three and a half years.  Deciding that the religious life was not his vocation, he transferred to Glen Cove High School and graduated in 1951.

James then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April, 1952.  He was assigned to the USS Missouri right of boot camp and after a shakedown cruise that ship was off for Korea.  He was on board that ship for three years and helped put the ship in “mothballs” the first time.  He then spent a year aboard a submarine tender based in San Diego, CA.

After the service, James returned to Glen Cove, where he married Sophie Shepanski and together they raised two sons, James and Matthew.  They are now the proud grandparents of five grandchildren.

One of his proudest moments as an Hibernian was assisting in the response to Cardinal O’Connor’s request that the Order fill St. Patrick’s Cathedral when protestors threatened to desecrate it. And in 2005 the Division awarded him with its highest honor, naming him Grand Marshal of the Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Jim helped keep the Irish tradition alive by joining the Thomondgate Dancers who performed at schools, nursing homes and feisanna and at public events such as the Tercentennial celebration in downtown New York City.

In addition to marching on March 17th, Mike will represent the county in all the events leading up to the historic march, including a reception on Feb. 21st and one on March 14th.

Byrne was elected as County President this past June and is currently serving a two year term that will end in June 2011.