Hibernian Celebration Cleveland Honors Irish Heritage

On Saturday, February 5th, after attending the Lunar New Year festivities at Asia Plaza, we joined the Hibernian Celebration Cleveland at the West Side Irish American Club in Olmsted Township. This event honored Saints Brigid and Patrick and marked one of the first major gatherings since early 2020.

The pandemic canceled beloved traditions like the Claddagh Ball and St. Patrick’s Day parades in 2020 and 2021. As a result, the turnout was impressive. Guests came together to celebrate honorees from both 2020 and 2022, including:

• Grand Marshal: Thomas Scanlon (2020) and Thomas McManamon (2022)
• Irish Mother of the Year: Kathleen Mangan (2020) and Rita Lally (2022)
• Inside Co-Chair: Maureen Mohney (2020) and Patricia Lavelle (2022)
• Outside Co-Chair: Christopher Cooper (2020) and Kathleen Mangan Stull (2022)
• Hibernian of the Year: Robert Fitzgerald (2020) and Father Thomas Mahoney (2022)

Faith, Music, and Community

The evening began with a 4:30 pm Mass that ended around 6 pm. Afterward, guests enjoyed dinner, lively socializing, and music from Auld Pitch. The atmosphere was warm and festive, reflecting Cleveland’s strong Irish heritage.

We spoke briefly with Father Mahoney, the 2022 Hibernian of the Year. His great-grandparents immigrated from Ireland between 1848 and 1867. He shared that he was familiar with the work of Ms. [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-1″]. Years ago, clergy sought her counsel to help a worthy individual from South America remain in the United States. Father Mahoney could not recall the details, but he remembered the outcome—the person stayed in the country, which mattered most.

Events like the Hibernian Celebration Cleveland remind us of the enduring strength of cultural traditions and community bonds.

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