Preliminary MEMO to be updated and mailed later

Preliminary MEMO to be updated and mailed later.

1. This year is a historic year being the 250th New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade.

For more details on this 250th anniversary see the Saint Patrick's Day Parade official web site link:

nycstpatricksparade.org. Our Laois Grand Marshall leading our Association up Fifth Avenue will be announced later.

2. This year's Assembly place and time

2:30pm at 48 West 48th Street, betwn. 5th and 6th Avenues. (Same as most years)

3. Liam McMahon from the "Phoenix Project New Beginnings" in Co. Laois, Ireland will be marching with us this year. the Project was founded by a Co. Laois group to help those severely impacted by the economic meltdown in Ireland.

4. Sincere condolences to Mary Phelan and family on the untimely loss of her husband Senator Kieran Phelan of Co. Laois. Kieran was extremely helpful and encouraging to our NYC Laois Association in years gone by. His brother, is a cofounder and owner of "Mars 2112" theme restaurant

in Times Square, New York.

5. An option for the end of the march this year: President Mike Dunphy can arrange a corned beef meal at the Liederkrantz Club for $40.00 per person. The Club is very close to the end of the march at 6 East 87th Street. For those interested, please contact Mike.

COUNTY LAOIS ASSOCIATION, NEW YORK

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE, MARCH 2010

Dear Member,

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Great, Great News

The Laois Association has been honored by the Parade Committee and is the first County to march up Fifth Avenue this year. We will also be on TV.

New Assembly Place and Time:

Assemble at 11:10am on Wednesday, March 17 on West 44^th Street,

between No. 20 and 6^th Ave.

Let’s join in extending Laura Dunphy a big congratulations on becoming this year’s Laois Grand Marshal. This will be Laura’s 30^th time to march up 5th Avenue. After graduating from Georgetown University, she worked as a journalist in Washington, D.C., Florida, and Los Angeles - but always returned to New York for the Parade. Now a Manhattanite, writer, and stay-at-home-mom, Laura is delighted to be leading her ancestral county. Husband Michael Erlinger and almost-three-year-old daughter Sophie are enthusiastic annual marchers as well. At the beginning of the march, Lesley Traver, last year’s Grand Marshal, will present Laura with the Grand Marshal sash for the current year.

DRESS CODE: The Parade Chairman, John Dunleavy, is insistent that all marchers strictly observe the appropriate dress code, i.e. “Sunday Best” … sorry, no sneakers, no jeans.

Please visit our website at www.nylaoisassociation.com for updates and previous years photo galleries.

Hope to see you all once again on Wednesday, March 17^th, St. Patrick’s Day.

Contacts:

Mike Dunphy, cell 973-886-6097, (H) 732-292-0277, e-mail: mike.dunphy@att.net.

Larry McEvoy, cell 917-833-3218, (H) 718-347-2401, e-mail: LMcEvoy@aol.com

P.S. See reverse side for Laois News.

Laois Association News:

Sincere condolences to Kathleen Lambe (Clonaslee) on the loss of her beloved Jimmy Aspell (March 20^th, 2009), a cheerful and engaging soul, who honored Laois by marching with us every year. We will miss his presence, but he will not be forgotten.

Welcome to our newest members including Richard Dormer, Police Commissioner for Suffolk County, Tom Whelan of Garden City and Michael J. Whelan of Grand Rapids, MI.

We are delighted to hear that Bill McEvoy, now 87 years, will join us again this year in the parade. Bill is a founding member and leading spirit in the very successful Ceoltas Ceoiltori na hEireann traditional musician tours of the USA and Canada. He was also instrumental in organizing the Killeshin Pipe band’s visit to the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York.

It gives us great pleasure to wish Stephen Colbert a hearty congratulations on his mother’s distinguished Laois lineage that goes way back to a young couple emigrating from our County before the “Gorta Mor” in the 1820s. To Stephen’s surprise, the connection was revealed on the recent PBS premiere of “Faces of America” hosted by Professor Henry Louis Gates. We are extending an invitation to Stephen to become a member of our Laois Association and to join us in the parade!!! (Link, http://video.pbs.org/video/1409077251/).

Congratulations also to Laois member and author, Tom Phelan, on his forthcoming book and his new writer’s residency in Cill Rialaig, Co Kerry this fall. Five of Tom’s family, including his wife Pat and sister Matt from Ireland, will be marching with us this year.