Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame Announces the 2007 Honorees
This is my first year as President of the DVIHOF and I have some big shoes to fill. Bob Hurst and John Egan, my predecessors, were super in the jobs they did, forming and nurturing this organization. It has taken its place among the very best Irish Community Associations.
During the commentary of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, I heard Larry Mendte refer to certain individuals as having been honored by the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame. I felt as proud as punch!
Each year choosing gets harder and harder. We receive many nominations of people certainly worthy of being chosen. The criterion is based on devotion to the continuance and cultivation of Irish Traditions through Music, Religion, Dance, Sports, Literature, Art, Charity, and Community Works. We try hard not to select from within, but our Board is made up of so many multi-talented, devoted and diverse people that this year we broke the rule again. So, drum roll please, here are the 2007 Honorees: Attracta O’Malley, Michael Bradley, Michael G.O’Neill, and posthumously, Danny and Philomena Browne.
A Special Merit award will also be presented to Michael A.Colleran, General Manager and President, CBS, Philadelphia.
Attracta Moffitt O’Malley comes from Charlestown, Co. Mayo and can always be found sharing her talents with a million organizations. She has earned her place as a Commun- ity Leader. She arrived in Philadelphia in 1961 to join her sisters and brothers. She immediately plunged into the Irish scene. She was one of the first women who joined the all-male bastion of the Mayo Association. She later became their first Woman President. Through the Mayo organization, she met her husband, Tom O’Malley. Among Attracta’s other successes are, Board Member of the Commodore Barry Club and the DVIHOF, Delegate to the Federation of Irish Societies, Mayo’s Representative to the St.Patrick’s Day Observance Comm. and a Participant for the Irish Community with the 41st International Eucharistic Congress. I always think of Attracta with a warm, smiling face and a bubbly attitude towards life.
Michael Bradley is like a whirlwind of activity, always ready to help his fellow man. He takes on a job, makes it part of his life and adds a whole new bunch of friends to his list of thousands already. He is proudest of his relationship with his beloved college, Penn State University. He is a Board Member and an Alumni Fellow. He is President and Parade Director of the St.Patrick’s Day Observance Assoc., a member of the Irish of Havertown, AOH#65, Irish Center, and Mayo Association. In his free time, he is the President of MJBCO,Inc.a family owned flooring business. Michael is husband to Linda and dad to Colin and Mickey. There is always a fun time when Michael Bradley is around.
Michael G.O’Neill is our Corporate Honoree. He is CEO of the Conshohocken based Preferred Unlimited, Inc. a company whose philanthropic goals are focused on youth based social and educational initiatives. O’Neill describes his management style as a Super Bowl every day, “come in and be the best at what you do, apply the highest standards to it for the highest purposes”. He is a Villanova graduate and attended Temple Law School.
Mike was instrumental in helping the Irish Memorial, Front and Chestnut Sts., Olde City, become a reality. He was refurbishing one of the first generating stations of the Phila-delphia Electric Company into a large office complex. He made this historical Chester property available to the Memorial Committee for the unveiling of the statue. At a record pace and with a lot of personal expense, he gutted the building and that event raised a half million dollars. Some people say that it was the greatest affair the Philadelphia Irish ever had. I think we had a special angel… Mike O’Neill.
Phil and Danny Browne are being honored posthumously. Everyone loved this handsome couple who were an intricate part of our community; as members of our organizations, as contributors to the Irish Center and mostly, as our treasured friends. Philomena (Co. Down) and Danny (Co. Donegal) met at a dance in Belfast. They had 7 children, 6 girls, Adena, Carmel, Bernadette, Annette, Kathy, Caroline, and finally, a son, Daniel, Jr.
I remember their 50th Wedding Anniversary. All their friends and family were there, surrounding them with love, witnessing their vow renewal and watching them waltz, again, around the room.
Danny was active with the AOH#80 which now bears his name. He was on the Board of the Irish Center, DVIHOF and a member of the Tyrone Society. They both were long time supporters of Northern Aid and the Donegal Association. At the end, Phil and Danny died within three months of each other. They will never be forgotten.
Last but not least, we will be presenting Michael A. Colleran with an Honorary Award. As President and General Manager of CBS, the station which broadcasts the St. Patricks Day Parade, he has adopted the Philadelphia Irish as his own. He is a warm, humble man who has roots in Scranton, Pa. Michael Colleran is a very generous man who not only shares his talents with us but becomes our friend. The affair will be held at the Irish Center, November 18, Sunday, with cocktails at 5PM, dinner and music by Vince Gallagher.
By: Kathy McGee Burns, President Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame