Businessman Named 2014 Grand Marshal

Cathal (Chuck) McGreal of Cortlandt Manor, NY has been selected to serve as Grand Marshal of the 25th Anniversary Peekskill St. Patrick’s Parade and lead marchers through downtown Peekskill on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

McGreal, born and raised just outside Westport in County Mayo, Ireland, is a prominent businessman in the area, running two popular restaurants – the Quiet Man Public House on Division Street and the Yellow Brick Café on Railroad Ave. near the Peekskill train station – as well as Hibernian Wood Design, one of the metropolitan New York area’s premiere designer, renovator and builder of upscale restaurants and private homes.

Marching with McGreal at the head of the line will be his aides: Erwin Alexandre; Aidan O’Kelly-Lynch; Kathleen Spencer; and Susan Sheridan.

The St. Patrick’s Committee also selected the 69th Regiment of New York—the “Fighting Sixty Ninth ”—as a  “special honoree” to pay homage to the unit for its long and loyal tradition of participation in Peekskill parades. The 69th Regiment’s Color Guard has been at the head of every St. Patrick’s Parade in Peekskill except one, a year in which the unit was deployed in Iraq.

In addition to his business accomplishments, McGreal is extremely active in Irish-American activities. He is a long-time member of the St. Patrick’s Committee, he holds office in the Peekskill Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and also the AOH in Westchester County, and he is a founding member and officer of the Hudson Valley Irish Fest that is held each September at Peekskill’s Riverfront Green.

McGreal is also well known for the number of charitable fund-raisers that have been held at The Quiet Man.

Erwin Alexandre is a well-known and respected member of the St. Patrick’s Committee and is frequently found behind the scenes helping out in a variety of roles for the committee. He also contributes time and talents to the community as a whole.  Aidan O’Kelly-Lynch was recently elected president of the Westchester County Ancient Order of Hibernians after serving as president of the Peekskill Division when the Irish Center was established on 6th Street in Verplanck. He is also an officer and founding member of the Hudson Valley Irish Fest.

Kathleen Spencer also contributes time and talent to the parade committee and to other organizations like the Graymoor Sisters who have benefitted from efforts in helping them raise funds.  Susan Sheridan is a former Captain of the Centennial Hose Volunteer Co. who, in addition to being an active volunteer, works diligently on fire department parades and activities. She was a major organizer of the efforts to place the 9-11 monument honoring Sam Oitice at Riverfront Green.

The St. Patrick’s Committee is sponsoring its annual Mary Alice Murphy Half-Way to St. Patrick’s Day Cruise on the Hudson River on September 7, 2013. During this cruise the Grand Marshal and the Aides are formally introduced. For more information on the cruise contact Committee chairman Jack Murphy at eagletide@gmail.com.

In March the annual Installation Dinner will take place at Colonial Terrace on Sunday, March 9, 2014. Then, the following Saturday, March 15, will feature a variety of events including a brunch held in conjunction with the Peekskill Elks Lodge at 11am. A mass in honor of St. Patrick will begin at 1:30pm at Assumption Church and the Parade will kick off at 3pm.