Congratulations to Our Aides.
Click on their Pictures to view their Accomplishments.
 Mary Cahill |
 Karen Moynihan Doran |
 Matthew Gallagher |
 Chad Ghastin |
 Michael Hanney |
 Kathy Kuhnel |
 Brendan Lynch |
 Lynwood L. Wallace |
Mary Cahill
A lifelong resident of Yonkers and the eldest of six children, Mary is immensely proud of her Irish heritage, with roots in Longford through her father, James Cahill, Sr., and Cavan, through her mother, Margaret (Peggy Connolly).
Her journey of faith and education began at St. Anthony School where she was part of the inaugural first grade class. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English and Religious Studies from Iona University, she returned to St. Anthony to teach and share her faith with the next generation.
After teaching for a few years, Mary built an accomplished career in marketing and operations, holding executive positions with the Young President’s Organization and Thomson Reuters (Faulkner and Gray) where, as Vice President, she was responsible for successfully executing over 60 revenue generating conference/tradeshows annually. Later she joined the New York Power Authority as a Strategist, supporting the CEO and his leadership team in driving successful, organizational transformation.
Deeply committed to service, Mary balanced her professional life with a lifelong dedication to religious education, volunteering with CCD programs at St. Anthony and Christ the King in Yonkers, and most recently St. Joseph in Bronxville, her Parish, where she is also a Eucharistic Minister.
She serves her community as well, mentoring students from Westchester Community College, and is a board member of both St. Joseph’s Medical Center Auxiliary and the Charter School of Excellence Foundation Board.
Enjoying retirement, Mary loves to travel extensively, especially to her “second home” – Ireland where she visits with her many cousins and continues to explore her heritage. She is deeply honored and thrilled to be an Aide to the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day Parade on McLean Avenue.
Karen Moynihan Doran
Karen Moynihan Doran is the youngest of 3 children, all born and raised in Yonkers, to Rochelle and John “Murph” Moynihan. She is especially proud that her father was an Aide in the Yonkers St. Patrick’s Parade back in the 1980’s, and that she is now following in his parade footsteps. The Moynihan family traces its Irish heritage from Karen’s paternal great grandparents, who hail from Gneeveguilla, County Kerry.
Karen attended Sacred Heart Elementary and High Schools in Yonkers. She received her bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz, where she played both softball and basketball.
She and her husband, Arthur “Mike” Doran III reside in Northwest Yonkers where they have raised their 3 daughters, Molly, Tara, and Maggie, their greatest accomplishments. Karen is also proud to say that her husband, the current Chief Judge in Yonkers, was an Aide in the Yonkers St. Patrick’s Parade on McLean Avenue in 2019.
Karen has worked as a flight attendant with Delta Air Lines for 34 years and really enjoys traveling with her family.
She has always been involved in the Yonkers community, having served on several PTA boards at Montessori 31, Yonkers Middle HS and the Yonkers Council of PTAs. She was the leader of 2 Yonkers Girl Scout troops through Heart of the Hudson. She has served on the board at the Amackassin Club.
She is a current member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Our Lady of Knock Division 19 – Yonkers. Karen appreciates her LAOH sisters for their support and dedication to the founding principles of Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity, and for promoting the culture of their Irish ancestors.
Karen is honored to march this year as an Aide to the Grand Marshal and thanks her family and friends for their support and enthusiasm!
Matthew Gallagher
Matthew Gallagher is a lifelong Yonkers resident, born in the McLean Avenue area, to parents who had immigrated from Ireland. His father Paul is from Granard, County Longford, and his mother Cara is from Collon, County Louth, where Matthew travels every summer to visit his grandparents.
After attending St. Paul the Apostle School on McLean Avenue, Matthew attended Archbishop Stepinac High School, where he captained the soccer team and was President of the Foróige Club, which is an Irish American club that creates volunteer projects to benefit the local Irish community. He traveled with the Foróige Club to Maynooth University in Ireland for the Leadership for Life Conference in August 2022.
He graduated from Stepinac in 2023, and attends Iona University where he is currently enrolled in his second year, working towards a Finance degree, and is a member of club soccer, the finance club, and the honors program.
Matthew is also an avid Gaelic football player for NY Rangers Gaelic Football Club playing at the Junior A, Junior B, and U21 level. He works at Westchester Country Club in Rye as a caddie in the summer and as busboy in the winter.
Matthew’s Parish is St. Mary/Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Mt. Vernon, where he grew up and frequently served on the Altar and volunteered his time.
Sadly, Matthew’s brother Luke passed away from cancer in 2019 at the age of 12. As a Senior at Stepinac in 2023, Matthew suggested the School’s Spring Blood Drive be held in Luke’s memory. With 88 donors rolling up their sleeves, including Matthew and several members of his family, it was one of Stepinac’s most successful drives. Also in Luke’s memory, Matthew and his siblings set up a GoFundMe for Luke’s 18th birthday. The GoFundMe raised over $12,500, that was donated to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, where Luke received his exceptional care.
Chad Ghastin
Chad Ghastin is originally from Michigan. Ancestors of his paternal grandparents came to America in the early 1800’s from Kilmacrenan, County Donegal and Carnlough, County Antrim.
Chad earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Advertising from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing from New York University. For two years he served as an adjunct graduate professor of CRM and Customer Experience at NYU. He is a Certified Customer Experience Professional as designated by the Customer Experience Professionals Association.
Chad is Product Manager, Customer Experience at the New York Power Authority in White Plains, where he is responsible for developing and executing enterprise-wide strategies to improve the experience and satisfaction of the Authority’s 1,500+ customers.
Earlier in his career, he was an independent consultant in NYC, focused on customer experience, digital marketing, and product development for clients including, Johnson & Johnson, CNBC and NBC News. He has also served as Vice President, Business Leader of U.S. CRM at MasterCard and Director of Digital Product Development at the New York Times. He later served as Vice President of Consumer Experience at VNS Health, in NYC and as Sr. Manager of Customer Experience at JFK International Air Terminal, where he led all aspects of customer experience for 25 million passengers annually and employee engagement for 12,000 terminal employees.
For the past decade, Chad has been an active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America. For several years he served as Recording Secretary in Myles Scully, AOH, Div. #1 Yonkers, and appointed roles as social media Director on the New York State AOH Board. For the past two years he has served as Digital Coordinator on the AOH National Board, leading the development, planning and management of all digital marketing, website, and social media initiatives.
The AOH State Board honored Chad with the AOH Commodore Barry Medal. In 2024, Chad was named the Division 1 Hibernian of the Year.
In 2007 he married Eileen Mone, a native of Riverdale, and English teacher in the New York City Dept. of Education. Eileen’s mother is a native of County Kerry and her father is first generation Irish-American with his parents from Counties Sligo and Armagh. Chad and Eileen reside in Pelham, and are long-time parishioners of St. Joseph’s Church in Bronxville.
Michael Hanney
Michael Hanney was raised in Yonkers., the second of four children of Thomas V. Hanney and Geraldine Hanney. Michael’s great grandfather, Patrick Joseph Hanney was from County Sligo and his great grandmother from County Cork. Other great grandparents, the parents of Michael’s grandmother, Julia (Moynihan) Hanney, immigrated from Counties Kerry and Mayo.
Michael attended both Sacred Heart Grade and High Schools in Yonkers, and graduated in 1983
He first followed his passion for building when he joined the Int’l. Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 501, which is now known as IBEW Local 3 Westchester County.
Michael then found an even bigger passion when he became a Yonkers Firefighter, joining the YFD in April of 1990. Michael climbed through the ranks in this department of highly trained members, and currently holds the title of Assistant Chief of the Department. He is assigned to Battalion 2 at Station 12.
In addition to his professional interest in the health and safety of others, Michael enjoys giving back to his communities and has spent countless hours volunteering in various roles. He is the past Commissioner of the Ardsley Recreation Department, and he has helped develop programs for the younger children in the Ardsley Community by coaching C.Y.O. Basketball for 17 years at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Ardsley, where he lives.
He has served for 10 years as a board member of the Ocean Beach and Bay Club, Lavallette, NJ, overseeing the daily operations of the Bay and Beach.
Michael believes in brotherhood and philanthropy. He is a very proud member of the Yonkers Fire Department Holy Name Society, as well as an original member of the Yonkers Fire Department Pipes and Drums Band. He is also a proud member of the Westchester County Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick
Michael’s proudest and greatest accomplishment is his marriage to his beautiful wife Karen Hanney, and the three wonderful children they have raised to adulthood, Christopher, Kaitlyn, and Michael Jr.
Kathy Kuhnel
Kathy Kuhnel was born in the Bronx to John and Anne Anderson. The family moved to Yonkers when she was 4 years old. She has always been proud of her Irish heritage, passed down to her and her wonderful sisters Eileen, Rita and Meg, from their grandparents, the Quinn & Healy Families. Kathy is the proud mother of Tracey Huvane, and treasures her grandchildren Kelly, Colin, Sean and Shay.
Kathy graduated from Sacred Heart Grade and High Schools and is a graduate of Manhattan College. She worked in Real Estate Management and as a Broker for many years, and is a licensed Real Estate Broker and Notary Public of the State of New York. She is a member of the New York State Association of Realtors and the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors.
Kathy has been employed by the City of Yonkers for the past 24 years. She has been involved with the project Daylighting the Saw Mill River, and the Affordable Housing Program. In 2013, she became Director of the Yonkers Affordable Housing Program and has held that title ever since. During her years with the City, she has worked with many different people and her goal has always been to find them a home or apartment that they would be happy with, which would fit their needs. She finds being able to help these people very rewarding.
She has been a Board Member of the Homefield Association since 1978, serving as Treasurer, then President from 1993 to 2018, now holding the title of President Emeritus. Kathy has also been with the First Precinct Community Council since 1993, where she served as Treasurer and has been President since 2013.
She has been a Board Member of the Monastery Manor and Fr. Finian Housing since 2015.
In 2023, Kathy was the recipient of the Women of Excellence Humanitarian Award of the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce Women in Business, where she been a member for many years.
A long time Parishioner of Sacred Heart Church, Kathy was on the Parish Council for many years. She is on the Board of the Sacred Heart Finance Council and has been named a Trustee.
Brendan Lynch
Brendan Lynch was born in Yonkers, where he resided for 25 years. He is the youngest of 2 children of Irish immigrant parents, Eamonn and Angela Lynch. His father hails from County Cavan and his mother from County Roscommon.
He attended St. Bartholomew School in Yonkers, Iona Preparatory School, and received his Bachelor of Engineering from Manhattan University.
Brendan is a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Bronxville. He and Peggy, his wife of 24 years, reside in Eastchester. They are the proud parents of 3 children, Mairead, Ciara and Aidan.
Brendan has been active in his local community, volunteering as a soccer and baseball coach with various sports clubs, as well as helping out at CYO basketball games through the years. He is the current Co-Chairman of the Eastchester St. Patrick’s Day Parade which he has been involved in since its inception over 19 years past. The parade proudly displays Irish culture and heritage every March for the residents of the town.
He is a member of many organizations within the New York Irish community, including the Knights of St. Patrick, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Past President Division 9 AOH NY County, Eastchester Irish American Social Club, and the Cavan Association. Brendan is extremely proud of his 34-year association with the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade which he has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and continues to serve as a member of the current Board of Directors. Every March 17th you can find Brendan at the Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and then on 5th Avenue, helping with the parade organization. St. Patrick’s Day in the Lynch household is the 2nd biggest holiday, after Christmas.
Brendan is employed by the engineering firm Bard, Rao + Antanas Consulting Engineers, as an Associate Principal in the role of Director of Construction Administration. The firm is engaged in the design of health care and life science buildings environmental systems on both the national and international level. Prior to his current employment, he was the owner of a mechanical contracting firm located on McLean Avenue in Yonkers for 12 years.
Brendan is honored to be selected as an Aide to the Grand Marshal for this year’s parade and looks forward to marching the “Emerald Mile” along McLean Avenue.
Lynwood L. Wallace
Lynwood L. Wallace, the youngest of twelve children of Dorothy McCafferty Wallace and Charles Wallace, credits his mother for instilling in him an appreciation for his Irish heritage, a legacy that has always been part of his identity. Raised in the Bronx, Lynwood, always spirited and independent, explored and found adventure in the neighborhood from as early as age five.
He graduated from Harry S. Truman High School in the Bronx, and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New York Institute of Technology, where he excelled academically and in extracurricular activities. Lynwood served as Vice President, then President of the Theta Beta Chapter of Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity, Inc. He was also elected a Senator in the Student Government Association and President of the Cycling Club.
His career in advertising and media has been marked by steady growth and accomplishments. He has worked in Operations and Production at notable organizations such as Time Warner, GREY Direct, Interpublic Group of Companies and Publicis Groupe. He is a member of the Advertising Production Club of NY, the Data & Marketing Association and the Publicis Mentorship Program, where he contributes expertise and insight to the next generation of professionals.
Lynwood and his wonderful and dedicated wife, Jeni have three remarkable and loving children: Hailey, Matthew and Mark. Twenty-five years ago, they bought a home in Yonkers, where their children attended St. Barnabas Elementary School. Lynwood and Jeni are active members of their parish and attend Mass regularly.
Lynwood has dedicated many years to mentoring young people. With inspiration from Matthew and Mark, Lynwood was a devoted Cub Scout Den Leader for Troop 102 for eight years. He shepherded many young men to numerous merit badges and helped many achieve the prestigious Arrow of Light, the highest honor in Cub Scouting.
In September 2013, the Wallace family faced an unimaginable tragedy with the loss of their son Matthew in a tragic accident. In his memory, Lynwood and Jeni founded The Matthew Wallace Foundation in 2014, a charitable organization dedicated to continuing Matthew’s legacy of kindness, generosity and service to others. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $110,000 in scholarships to 44 recipients from Matthew’s alma maters, St. Barnabas Elementary School and Mount Saint Michael Academy. Additionally, the Foundation operates several community programs, including a monthly food pantry, the Thanksgiving Turkey Grab-N-Go and Spark the Spirit of Giving—a Christmas event providing groceries, toys and coats for families in need.
Through his work with the Foundation and ongoing commitment to his community, Lynwood remains a steadfast advocate for the values of generosity, service and love that his son Matthew embodied.