The Eastchester Irish American Social Club, EIASC, announced Sean Mackin, Eastchester resident and owner of Preferred Mechanical Inc. and Preferred Sprinkler Corp., as grand marshal for the EIASC’s 13th annual Eastchester St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The parade is on Sunday, March 12 at 3 p.m. The gala honoring Mackin and parade honorees Nancy Heffernan, Caroline O’Connell and Margaret Reynolds Stapleton, all of Eastchester, is on Saturday, March 4 at the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle. Gala and Parade details can be found by visiting eastchesterirish.org.
Born in Belfast, County Antrim, Mackin became a key voice in the Irish peace process working with elected officials in Washington, D.C., to promote peace and justice in Northern Ireland. His efforts began at an early age when he joined the Irish republican movement, and was arrested and imprisoned several times. In 1983, he immigrated to the United States and eventually became an American citizen.
“My commitments to peace, justice and helping others have grown while living in America, but they come from my Irish roots, and I’m grateful to celebrate those ideals at Eastchester’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade with my family and community,” Mackin said. He and wife Philomena, members of the EIASC for 18 years, have three children: daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Taylor who have three children, Gavin, Ryan and Ella Rose; son Sean Og; and son Ciaran and his partner Chelsey and their son Pierce. They all live in Eastchester.
File photo
In addition to his success in business, Mackin is a humanitarian and advocate for Irish American causes. He is co-founder and chairman of the New York Irish Center, known for its outstanding services to the senior Irish generation and suicide prevention assistance for the Irish community. In 2014, he was honored by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform for his work with undocumented Irish.
At the gala, the grand marshal and honorees will be presented with their parade sashes. Traditionally sold out, the gala is open to EIASC members and their guests. EIASC membership is open to those of Irish descent and anyone interested in Irish culture. Membership information can be found at eastchesterirish.org.
EIASC, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1966 with members from Eastchester, Tuckahoe, Bronxville, Crestwood and surrounding communities.
