Roscommon native at the helm of New York parade announces intention to run for Seanad Eireann
Boyle native Hilary Beirne has announced his intention for run for Seanad Eireann.
A County Roscommon man who is known world-wide for managing the world’s largest and longest running St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City has announced his intention to run for Seanad Eireann.
In an interview on Friday on Shannonside Radio’s Joe Finnegan Show, Hilary Beirne, from Boyle spoke passionately about the urgent need for increased political engagement of Irish nationals, particularly those living abroad. To this end he announced he will be seeking a nomination to Seanad Eireann in the National University of Ireland (NUI) constituency.
On the show, Hilary said: “After speaking at the Global Irish Civic Forum in Dublin Castle last year, where I discussed Seanad reforms and the need for better engagement of Irish citizens living abroad, I have been approached to run for Seanad Eireann.”
The Beirne campaign is already gaining momentum as he is building support within the NUI universities and has received encouragement from several well-known NUI personalities in Ireland for the Seanad run. This is in addition to strong support from NUI graduates abroad.
In the past year, he has spoken concerning Irish political engagement at the Global Irish Civic Forum, the Inter-Celtic Business Forum in Brittany, France, the Tangible Ireland conference in Limerick, and at the Golden Bridges award ceremony in Boston.
Educated at NUI Galway and NUI Dublin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science and a master’s degree in environmental and occupational health sciences. He also attended Atlantic Technology University (ATU) Mountbellew, formerly the Franciscan Agricultural College in Mountbellew.
He is a member of the Irish Ad Hoc Committee to protect the Good Friday Agreement in Washington DC, Chairman and founder of the St Patrick's Day Foundation, NYC, and member of the executive board at Votingrights.ie, as well as a member of a number of other Irish organisations.
Hilary Beirne was instrumental in introducing the wrapping of baled silage into the West of Ireland during the late 80s.
