Marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in the city has been a cherished tradition for a retired carpenter from Queens for many years. This year, he will have the special role of leading the parade. Michael Benn, a 75-year-old grandfather, will serve as the grand marshal for Monday’s event, a distinction he considers a dream come true and a significant moment for him as the son of Limerick.
Describing it as the culmination of all his aspirations in life, Benn expressed his excitement for this year’s festivities. While Benn has been involved in organizing the Queens County St. Patrick’s Day parade for most of its 50-year history, he never imagined he would one day lead the world’s largest march. Despite feeling humbled compared to previous grand marshals, Benn’s strong ties to the community led to him being chosen as this year’s leader.
Having deep roots in the community, Benn is actively involved in various charitable causes and also hosts a television show promoting Irish culture and heritage. St. Patrick’s Day has always held a special place in Benn’s heart, starting from his childhood in Limerick, where he later met his wife before they both immigrated to New York in the 1960s.
Their love story began at a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Manhattan, where they met and eventually got married. Settling in the Rockaways, Benn became closely connected to the local Irish community and played a pivotal role in the Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade. His friendship with another Limerick native, Jimmy Conroy Sullivan, who founded the parade, further solidified his involvement in celebrating Irish heritage in New York City.
Benn shared his enthusiasm about working with Sullivan, stating, “Boy, I got to get involved with this guy!” Benn quickly climbed the ranks within the organization and served as Sullivan’s vice president until Sullivan’s unexpected passing in 1987. Since then, Benn has taken the lead in organizing the parade, including overseeing its 50th anniversary celebration earlier this month. The main difference Benn has noticed between the local Rockaway event and the city-wide parade is the size of the crowds. However, this year’s parade will have a new start at Father Duffy Square in Times Square for the first time, with Mayor Eric Adams officially kicking off the march. Ireland’s folk group, Seo Linn, will perform at the event, led by Benn’s nephew-in-law. Over 40 of Benn’s family members, including his children, grandchildren, and guests from Ireland, will proudly march alongside him as the grand marshal. Sixteen councillors from Benn’s hometown of Limerick will also join in the celebration. Benn is particularly excited about participating in the traditional morning Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral that marks the beginning of the parade each year. He anticipates the pre-parade Mass at the cathedral, expressing his awe at the experience and sharing that his wife is nervous about walking in the procession. Benn will kick off his day with an Irish breakfast at the Pig ‘N Whistle at 6 a.m., enjoying bangers, mash, and pudding. He humorously mentioned that while corned beef and cabbage will be served later, there might also be a drink or two such as Guinness or Jameson on the menu.
