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Limerick’s Michael Benn to Lead 2025 NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

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A proud Irishman, Michael Benn is the president and chairman of the Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Rockaway Beach, also known locally as the Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Michael Benn, a native of Limerick City, will serve as the grand marshal for the 2025 New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Michael Benn
The parade makes it’s way up 5th Avenue, passing St Patrick’s Cathedral

Family and friends in Limerick are overjoyed after it was announced that on March 17, 2025 Limerick cities own Michael Benn will lead over 100,000 people up 5th Avenue as the grand marshal of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The New York City parade is the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration globally, drawing over 100,000 participants each year and proud Limerick man, Michael Benn will lead the 2025 parade.

A proud Irishman, Michael is the president and chairman of the Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Rockaway Beach, also known locally as the Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day Parade.


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Overseeing the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York for the last 24 years, Benn has helped honour many Irish leaders and countless locals over the last two and a half decades.

Born in Limerick City in 1948, Michael Benn attended Christian Brothers School Sexton Street before moving to the United States with his family in 1962. He continued his education at Cardinal Hayes High School and earned an accounting degree from Mercy College and served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972.

Michael’s Rockaway Beach connection began when he met his wife and fellow Limerick native, Christina, in the Bronx.

connection to Rockaway Beach began when he met his wife, Christina, a fellow Limerick native, in the Bronx. The two met in the Bronx and eventually built a life together in Rockaway Beach. After 53 years of marriage, the Benns were blessed with six children and 11 grandchildren, who have all embraced their Irish roots and Catholic upbringing.

Benn also produces and directs Au Suil Na Gael “In the Eyes of the Irish,” a television show that promotes Irish culture and heritage. “His love for Ireland holds no bounds,” the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee said in a statement.

“We cannot wait for Michael Benn to lead us up Fifth Avenue on March 17, 2025.” “Congratulations, Mike We know you’ll do Rockaway and Limerick proud”Michael is a first cousin of Limerick poet Sinéad Benns dad  Michael Benn late of Garryowen.

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.