Aides to Grand Marshal

McGuinness - McDonald - AOH Division 3

Kevin M. Murphy

Kevin M. Murphy was born and raised in Middle Village, Queens, New York. The fourth of five children born to Mary Vera (Crossmolina, Co. Mayo) and George (Wexford Town, Co. Wexford). Kevin is a graduate of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary High School and Saint Joseph's (College) University, Brooklyn, NY. In 1992 he graduated from the NYC Police Academy and continues to work and serve as a Detective assigned to the Missing Persons Squad. Kevin is a career-long member of the Emerald Society and Holy Name Society of the NYPD.

In September of 1998 Kevin had the honor of marrying Dolores McDonald-Murphy of Rockville Centre and together are the parents of three beautiful children, Mary, Grace and John. After a brief period living in Rockland County, the Murphy family moved to Warwick, NY in January of 2001. Kevin enthusiastically accepted an invitation and is proud to be a founding member of the AOH McGuinness-McDonald Division 3 in Warwick where he currently serves as the division’s Recording Secretary. Kevin is the brother-in-law of the late Detective Steven McDonald, whom the Division is co-named.

Kevin is proud to be selected and serve as an Aide to the Grand Marshal in Orange County’s 2025 Mid-Hudson Saint Patrick’s Parade representing AOH McGuinness-McDonald Division 3.

Fr. Emmanuel Hourihan - AOH Division 4

Sean Burke

Sean Burke is a native of Queens, New York, the oldest son of Thomas and Maureen (Tims) Burke. Tom and Maureen moved with their four children to Washingtonville in 1975, when Sean was ten years old. All four Burke children (Sean, Micheal, Brendan and Coleen) graduated from Washingtonville High School. Sean then went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Sean worked in the banking industry for nine years, before changing over to a career in law enforcement when he joined the New York City Police Department in 1996. Sean retired in 2018, after serving the last fourteen years of his career in the rank of Lieutenant, assigned to the Midtown Precinct North.

Sean has been an active member of the Father Emmanuel Hourihan AOH Division 4 since 2021. He is a third generation American and very proud of his Irish heritage. All of Sean’s great grandparents were born in Ireland, prior to emigrating separately to the United States. His Irish lineage can be traced to various counties in Ireland, including Tipperary, Cork, Kerry and Roscommon.

Sean resides in the town of Mount Hope with his wife of twenty-four years, Patricia (Dunn) Burke. They are the proud parents of Catherine, a senior at Hunter College, and Erin, a senior at Minisink Valley High School.

Sean is proud to be selected and serve as an Aide to the Grand Marshal in the 2025 Mid-Hudson Saint Patrick’s Parade representing AOH Division 4.

Our Lady of Knock - LAOH Division 2

Kathleen B. Walsh

Kathleen B. Walsh, a long standing member of the Orange County LAOH, is the daughter of Charles T. and Helen J. (Hearns) Bradley and was born and raised in the Town of Newburgh. She is a graduate of Newburgh Free Academy and pursued a profession in the legal field for thirty five years. Her paternal grandmother, I. Cassidy, came from Port Rush, Northern Ireland. Kathleen’s maternal grandmother was Helen O'Donnell from County Mayo, and grandfather Thomas F. Hearns from County Cork, who worked on the railroads in Albany. All her life she has been proud of her Irish Heritage and all the traditions that make us who we are! “In a trying situation I think of the courage and the hope they had to come to America, and say to myself, "I can do this, especially when walking up Fifth Ave. on March 17th all in their honor!” Kathleen has three awesome grandchildren, Tommy, Claire and William by daughter Colleen Walsh Agnew and son-in-law Andrew Agnew. She hopes they all will learn and endure our traditions. Her son Thomas C. Walsh is a veteran of the US Coast Guard and a graduate of US Cal. Maritime Academy. “It is an honor to be the Aide to our Grand Marshal Bill Coffey, and we will walk with great pride and cherish the day!”

Mary of the Gael - LAOH Division 5

Kathryn Anderson

Kathryn Anderson, the daughter of William and Louise Schuster, was born in Ridgewood, Queens and is one of 6 children. She has three brothers and two sisters and attended St. Matthias School, St. Francis Prep, and St. John’s University, graduating in 1985 with a degree in pharmacy. She met her husband George, at the Ridgewood Volunteer Ambulance Corps and they were married in 1985, moving to Monroe in 1988. Kathy practiced community pharmacy in Monroe, working in Genovese, Eckerd, Rite Aid, and ultimately CVS in Target. In 1996, Kathy and George welcomed their daughter, Kaitlyn Mary.

Kathy was a founding member of Ladies AOH Division 5 and a proud Irish Dance Mom to Katie, who was the founding President of LAOH 5 Junior Division, and who learned her Irish Dance at Sheehan-Gormley Irish Dance School and later Inishfree School of Irish Dance.

Kathy has been a stalwart supporter of the Irish Community in Orange County, helping her husband, George, serve as president of AOH Division 1, and marching at his side as Grand Marshal of the 2017 Mid Hudson Parade. Kathy works quietly behind the scenes at AOH and LAOH functions throughout the year. Helping out at Pocketbook Bingo, the Annual Mother’s Day Brunch, and numerous other events, Kathy supports her sisters in the LAOH and brothers in the AOH to celebrate our Irish Heritage and Catholic Faith.

Kathy is an avid traveler and has been blessed to visit all seven continents. She credits her parents for instilling this love of travel in her.

Her selection as Aide to the Grand Marshall of the 2025 Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Parade is an achievement she will always treasure.

Greenwood Lake Gaelic Cultural Society

John William Trazino

John William, son of John Joseph Trazino and Karen Anne Lafferty, was born February 25, 1972, in Manhattan, NY, where he lived until 1974 when the family moved to Greenwood Lake, where his mother grew up and his Father vacationed every summer.

He is Irish through his mother’s side where his family, with origins in County Antrim, was forced to find employment in the Circus in America because of anti-Catholic work discrimination of the era. John’s grandfather, William Lafferty, was born on the road while the circus was on tour, his mother being an acrobat. John’s grandmother, Ruth (McKay- Ferguson) was raised in northern New York in the US/ Canadian border area where her father “worked with hotels” on both sides of the border after passage of the Volstead Act and the establishment of Prohibition.

John was raised in Greenwood Lake where he attended school, was a member of the local Boy Scout Troop, attended area martial arts schools, joined local rock bands, and played sports. When he was of age, he joined the Greenwood Lake Fire Department & Ambulance Corps in his first roles as a first responder.

It was also during this time, while working at local businesses, competing in Taekwondo tournaments and completing college courses at night, he entered a local Tavern one evening and met the love of his life, Toddy, who had just moved to the area from Queens and was tending bar.

John first entered law enforcement in 2000, as a county Correction Officer. In the summer of 2001, he became a Greenwood Lake Police Officer and in 2002, he became a Deputy Sheriff with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. There he began in Patrol and then the Hudson River Marine Patrol. He became an Undercover Narcotics Investigator which led him to try-out for the county SWAT team, Special Operations Group. Once accepted as a Tactical Operator, he moved up to Sniper, Squad Leader, promoted to Sergeant then to SWAT Team Leader. In this role he was an integral part of many impactful operations throughout the region. He became a firearm and tactics instructor, teaching skills such as Active Shooter Response to Police and Federal Agents of all levels and established the first SWAT and Sniper Schools for this region of New York State. He has also worked with many organizations, schools, hospitals and businesses to bring Active Shooter and Workplace violence education to the public.

In 2016, he worked with the NY Archdiocese to create a program to secure churches using their own parish members against acts of violent criminality. This program was soon spread to houses of worship of all religions and denominations. In 2020, he established his own business, Archangel Operations, to provide education and special services to a wider audience.

In September of 2022, John accepted the position as Chief of Police in the Town of Tuxedo Police Department. He immediately set several goals to bring the department, which was on the edge of imploding, into a modern force. During his tenure accomplishments included restoring a struggling part-time Police Department to a full service 24 hour coverage force, updating budget practices, expanded the number of Officers filling long-standing vacancies and then adding additional positions, appointing a new Detective (and providing training/ guidance on modern investigation procedures and networking), returned local Dispatch to the region, established the first law enforcement Search & Rescue team in the area, strengthened relationships with surrounding departments and first responders, improved inter-agency/mutual aid responses, re-strategized traffic measures to address heavy congestion, provided regular crisis training to the public, Fire & EMS, implemented more efficient enforcement measures to combat increasing crime and vehicular offenses, modernized the force with improved gear and policies, and provided advanced tactical police training to the department. He is a licensed Private Investigator and through his agency, continues to teach advanced firearms & tactics to civilians, various Police Departments and at the Police Academy. John is a long-time member of the Greenwood Lake Elks and the Greenwood Lake Gaelic Cultural Society (former Trustee).

Over the years, he has volunteered numerous times to coach baseball, soccer and football. He has volunteered as an assistant Den Leader for the Cub Scouts, volunteers to secure masses and events at Holy Rosary Church, volunteers as a consultant services to various houses of worship in times of need, and is regularly seen working at local events such as Irish Night at the Beach, Saint Patrick’s Day, Oktoberfest, the GWL Terror Trail or at various parades in the region. John's proudest accomplishments are by far, that of a loving husband to his wife, Toddy and devoted father to their 4 children: John- Alexander, Sebastian, Saoirse and Zachary.

St. Brendan's Gaelic Football Club

Rachael McCallen

Rachael McCallen moved from her native Tyrone to Woodlawn in the Bronx in the summer of 2007 and since then has built a career and a family of three children, Sean 10, Oscar 9 and Esme, 6 with her husband James. They often return home to visit family and friends. Sean and Oscar are proud members of St. Brendan’s GAA club where they hone their skills in the hopes of one day playing for Tyrone in the all-Ireland. Rachael is honored to represent St. Brendan’s GAA as the Aide to Grand Marshal Billy Coffey in the Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Irish Heritage Festival

TBA

Bio forthcoming

Mary of the Gael - LAOH 5 Junior Division

Caitlyn Elizabeth Coffey

Caitlyn Elizabeth Coffey is a 16-year-old junior from Washingtonville, New York. She is the proud daughter of Joanna Coffey and her dad, William Michael Coffey, who she has the absolute honor to represent at this year’s parade. Moreover, she is also a sister to Caroline Santa and William Thomas Coffey, who she gets to stand alongside as Aides for this parade. Caitlyn is a second-generation Irish American with her grandma and great grandma coming from County Meath and her great grandparents from County Longford, County Cavan and Country Leitrim. Caitlyn was exposed to her Irish heritage at a young age. Growing up, Caitlyn actively participated in Irish sports, such as Gaelic Football, Hurling and Irish Dance, here in Orange County. She played for the St. Brendan’s Gaelic Athletic Association and Irish danced for the Sheahan Gormley School of Irish Dance. Caitlyn is known for her dedication to her academics and service throughout the community. Since starting high school, Caitlyn has received high honors and excellent grades. As a junior in high school, Caitlyn became a member of Washingtonville High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society by exemplifying the four pillars the honor society is based on: scholarship, leadership, service and character.

Outside of school, Caitlyn is the immediate Past Recording Secretary for the LAOH Juniors division in Monroe, New York. This past summer, Caitlyn was elected by her fellow members to become their Vice President. She had the honor of representing the Juniors as the Aide for their division in last year’s Saint Patrick’s Parade having the opportunity to represent her dance teacher and immediate past Grand Marshal, Unateresa Gormley. Caitlyn dedicates most of her time outside of school to different fundraisers and community service opportunities through the AOH. Caitlyn is also a member of the 2024 Irish American Young Leaders. Through the young leaders, she was given the opportunity to be sent to Ireland to participate in the Celtic Irish American Academy. She spent 2 weeks in Salthill, Galway with students from all over the world learning about the culture, serving the community and lived in a host house where she got to experience the true Irish life. Through this program she became even more of a leader and found amazing friends that have become family to her.

Caitlyn is eternally grateful for the opportunities she has been blessed with and is honored to represent herself and her father in this year’s 2025 Mid-Hudson St. Patrick's Parade.

Our Lady of Lourdes Benevolent Association

Thomas Gildea

Thomas Gildea is currently the Grand Knight of Our Lady of Lourdes Knights of Columbus Chapter 5890 in the Village of Washingtonville. He has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 10 years. He lives with Donna, his wife of 35 years in the village. They moved there 28 years ago and raised their family. Their children, Joey, Michelle and Liam are all out of school and have made them very proud, empty nesters.

Tom has been employed as a mortgage loan officer for the past 28 years. Tom is looking forward to his retirement.

Tom’s great-grandparents emigrated from Ireland in the 19th century. His Dad’s family came from County Donegal. His Mom’s family came from County Cork. Erin Go Bragh!

Tom is proud to represent Our Lady of Lourdes Knights of Columbus Council 5890 as their Aide and to march with the other aides and the Grand Marshal, Bill Coffey in the 2025 Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Parade.

Mid-Hudson St. Patrick's Parade Aide at Large

Caroline Santa Coffey

On January 1, 2013, Caitlyn Santa Coffey was born. Caroline is the youngest of her two siblings, William Thomas and Caitlyn Elizabeth. Caroline is the proud daughter of William Michael and Joanna Coffey. Caroline is known for her dedication and active involvement in both academics and extracurriculars. Caroline currently attends Washingtonville Middle School located here in Orange County, where she consistently earns high grades and honors. Caroline has been an avid member of the LAOH Division 5 Juniors since she was six years old. The LAOH Juniors has been a significant part of her life where she has served and volunteered diligently. This past year, at the tender young age of 11, Caroline was elected by her fellow members to become the recording secretary, where she is following in her sister’s footsteps who held the same position for the past 5 years. Caroline danced for the Sheahan Gormley School of Irish Dance. Caroline’s Irish heritage is a very important aspect of her life and has shaped her into the wonderful young lady she is today.

Caroline is honored to march in this year's parade with her siblings as an Aide at Large for her father, William Michael Coffey, this year's Grand Marshal.