LIMERICK councillors started spreading the news at City Hall about proud Treaty City man Michael Benn leading out the world’s largest St Patrick’s Day parade in New York City (NYC) next year.
Cathaoirleach of the Metropolitan District, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon (FF) spoke highly of Benn said at their recent monthly meeting. He counted Michael, who born in Limerick City Ireland in 1948 and attended Christian Brothers School before migrating to the United States with his family in 1962, as a “great friend of mine”.
Benn was last week unanimously appointed as 2025 NYC St Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal.
Cllr O’Hanlon deemed this a huge honour for the proud Limerick man and his native city to lead the oldest and largest St Patrick’s Day Parade in the world. He spoke of the importance of a Limerick Council delegation being part of the March 17 celebrations.
“I got to know him and as Mayor then in 1997 I went over to the parade in Rockaway Beach. It’s a huge parade, the second biggest in New York, and Mike is well got there,” Cllr O’Hanlon told council members.
Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler also had high praise for Mr Benn, who has organised the Queens County Parade for over 25 years. He called on Limerick City and County Council to host a civic reception in his honour in the future.
“What he does is incredible and we need to need to support and honour people that have left these shores to create a new life and represent us so well. Michael advocates all the time for Limerick. He speaks highly about Limerick all the time in New York and it has led to great opportunities for us as a city,” Cllr Butler commented.
Cllr Joe Leddin agreed with comments from Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon that a delegation should be sent to New York from the Council to capitalise on this huge honour for a Limerick son.
“We always have delegations every year but more importantly than ever, with Mike leading the celebrations, it’s a fantastic opportunity. The planning for those events needs to start now that we can maximise the opportunity for those that do have the opportunity to go abroad,” Cllr Leddin insisted.
