Each of the Divisions of the West Hudson St. Patrick's Day Parade is named for someone noteworthy or important to the history of the West Hudson Community or to the West Hudson St. Patrick's Day Parade.
It is altogether fitting that we honor those members of our community who exemplify the best of the Irish Diaspora in West Hudson.
Please read about them here.
Sean McGonigal Memorial Division 1
Born in Glasgow, Scotland of Irish parents (his mother from County Down; his father from County Donegal), Sean McGonigal spent part of his youth in Ireland. As a young man, Sean won a scholarship to the Scottish Master Painters and Decorators Academy, and in 1929, took his expertise as a sign painter and emigrated to the United States. Sean opened his own business as a sign painter shortly following his arrival, settling in Kearny, New Jersey.
It wasn't long before Sean became involved in organized piping, an interest that would consume the rest of his life. In 1933 he helped to form the Brian Boru Pipe Band as well as assisting other beginning pipe bands state wide. In 1949, Sean founded a pipe band that he wanted to be different than any that had gone before. He chose St. Columcille to represent his ideal - the unity of the Gael. Sean wanted St. Columcille to represent all who were proud of their blood and heritage and the band was no sooner formed than it was out making it's first appearance in October, 1949 in the Holy Name Parade in West Orange, New Jersey.
Sean's interest was not limited only to bagpipes. He had great interest in different cultures and a love of foreign tongues. In addition to being fluent in Gaelic, Sean also spoke German, Yiddish, French. Italian, Spanish and several American Indian dialects. His vast knowledge of the history of the American Indian qualified him as a contestant in the $64,000 Dollar Question, the popular 1950's quiz show. Sean's expertise in American Indian heritage allowed him to become a member of various Indian organizations, including the American Indian Congress and the Arrow Society .
During the Kearny Memorial Day Parade, in 1965, while leading the John F. Kennedy Pipe Band, a group of young pipers and drummers organized by Sean, he collapsed to the ground. He was later pronounced dead at West Hudson Hospital.
With Special Thanks to the St.Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band and the McGonigal Family
Monsignor Joseph A. Carroll Divison 2
Chief Thomas J. McLaughlin Memorial Division 3
Eileen A. Kenna Memorial Division 4
Eileen was a life long resident of Kearny and a valued public servant before her untimely death as a result of a hit and run auto accident in North Arlington in 1994. The only child of Thomas and Marion Kenna, Eileen was educated at St. Stephen's Grammar School and Queen of Peace High School. Eileen attended Seton Hall University, from which she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1980. Following her graudation she attended Seton Hall Law School, where she was editor of the Seton Hall Legislative Bureau.At Seton Hall Law she was awarded the Seton Hall University Centennial Scholarship and the Hudson County Bar Foundation Scholarship. Upon graduation Eileen clerked for the Honorable Burrell Ives Humphreys of th Superior Court of New Jersey and was admitted to the bar in the State of New Jersy in 1983. After completion of her clerkship, she was sworn as an Assistant Prosecutor in Hudson County.
Eileen served a distinguihed careeer as an Assistant Prosecutor from 1984 until her death in 1994. Among her accomplishments, Eilieen became a leading sex crimes prosecutor and served as the supervising attorney for the Sex Crimes/ Child Abuse Unit. In that position, she established some of the state's first uniform training materials and procedures for law enforcement officers in the area of domestic violence. Eileen also distinguished herself as the first NJ attorney to try and win a case based on DNA evidence. Among her peers and colleagues, Eileen was known as someone with uncomon sensitivity to crime victims. She earned the respect of her fellow attorneys, serving as president, and later trustee, of the West Hudson Bar Association. Following her death, Eileen's family and friends established a scholarship in her memory, which is awarded annually by the Hudson County Bar Association based on academic achievement and financial need.
In addition to her outstanding career as a prosecutor, Eileen was just as comitted to her community. Among her involvements, she volunteered her services to the Kearny Museum, where she served for 14 years as a volunteer curator and where her name is inscribed on a memorial plaque installed in her honor. Additionally, Eileen as a member of the Arlington Junior Woman's Club.
Eileen was also very proud to celebrate, honor, and promote her Irish heritage. She was a member of The Friends of Erin, where she worked tirelessly to help raise funds used for scholarships to further the education of worthy sons and daughters of Irish heritage in the West Hudson/South Bergen area. Moreover, Eileen looked forward every year to marchin in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. A stone monument in Eileen's memory lies int he Irish Heritage Park along Passaic Avenue in Kearny.
With Thanks to The Friends of Erin
Al Cifelli Memorial Division 5
Al Cifelli was a man of “many hats.” A life-long resident of Harrison, he owned and operated “Cifelli’s Bar & Restaurant” for 50 years. He graduated from Harrison High School in 1939 where he met his sweetheart, Vera, to whom he was married for 51 years.
Al served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Stationed in England, he was a member of a B-24 flight crew and flew 38 missions over enemy territory. For his heroism, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
In 1983, Al was elected a councilman serving the residents of Harrison’s fourth ward until his death in 1993. Aside from his political office, he was active in many of the community’s civic and fraternal organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, Elks, Moose, VFW and Lions where he served as President. However, possibly his affiliation with the United Irish Association of West Hudson afforded him his greatest satisfaction. Although both his parents were born in Italy, Al loved all things Irish. His support of West Hudson’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is well-known. Seeing his “Al Cifelli Association” in line of march was one of his great sources of pride. The “Al Cifelli Association” has participated in the Parade continuously since 1977.
Al passed away on March 18th. His family believes that the Almighty wanted him to have one more St. Patrick’s Day.
With thanks to the Cifelli Family