THE GRAND COUNCIL

Welcome

Welcome to the virtual home of The Grand Council of United Emerald Societies.

Reorganized in 1975, the Grand Council has a membership of over 20,000 members and serves as the umbrella group of 25 Affiliated Emerald Societies.

The membership of our Affiliated Emerald Societies serves in front-line professions such as Law Enforcement, Fire Service, EMS, Education, Waste Management, Mass Transit, and Public Utilities.

The Grand Council has Affiliates in the State of New York located in New York City, New York Metropolitan area (Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, and Westchester counties), New York Hudson Valley Region (Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, and Putnam counties), State of New Jersey, State of Massachusetts and the Washington D.C. Area.

Visit our Employment Resources page for civil service and public utility exams and job openings.

The Grand Council meets on the first Wednesday of the month at a different location in NYC, Westchester, and Long Island. The Grand Council does not meet in July and August.

The Grand Council’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, (7:30 pm start) at The Irish Poet, 1891 Wantagh Avenue, NY 11793. (Please note the special date and location)

Fraternally,

PETER F. WHALEN,

President

Ní neart go cur le chéile

There’s no strength without unity

**President Pete Whalen and 2022 Irishman of the Year Edward Grayson**

2023 Irishman of the Year

Learn more about the GCUES

Visit our friends

THE IRISH EXAMINER

NYC SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

AROUND THE EMERALD GREEN

December 13, 2022– next GCUES meeting

January 28, 2023- Con ES 60th Anniv. Dinner

November 30, 2022– FDNY ES Christmas Party

November 4, 2022, FDNY ES Dinner

Frank Beirne, Mike Quinn, Ed Finn, Patrick McParland, Danny Cavanag, Brian Sharkey, Kevin Quinn

November 2, 2022– GCUES meeting

Irish Echo First Responders awards October 28, 2022, Rosie O’Gradys

Left to right
The ConEd Emeralds present the Ireland Consul General Helena Nolan their new challenge coin. Jimmy O’Leary-GCUES Secretary,
Siobhan Keane-Revie – 2nd VP,
Ireland Consul General of NYC Helena Nolan,
Brianne Conlan – 3rd VP,
Patrick Burke – Chairman

PESNC 2023-2024 Executive Board

Death Notification

October 3, 2022, Press Release

Download dinner flyer, tickets, and journal form

October 14, 2022, NYCD ES Dinner

October 5, 2022, GCUES meeting

September 24, 2022, The Great Irish Fair

September 23, 2022, Yankee game

September 17, 2022, Irish Language Mass

The Ancient Order of Hibernians will join with Gaelic Societies, Irish community groups, and parishioners in the strongly Irish Woodlawn-McLean area to host the now-annual Irish language Mass on Saturday, September 17th, at 2:30 pm. The GCUES chaplain Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald, will celebrate the Mass in Gaelic, again symbolized by the Irish Mass Rocks, and this year including prayers for those who “hunger and thirst for justice” remembering families of victims killed during the Troubles, still denied the truth.

Under AOH National President Danny O’Connell, the Bronx AOH Irish language Mass became a national AOH event, viewed by Hibernians across the United States and in Ireland, via the St. Barnabas Facebook and AOH youtube. Thousands of people have viewed the Mass, many of them seeing a Gaelic Mass for the first time.

Irish-English translations of the liturgy will be made available so that anyone can read the prayers in English as they hear the Mass said in Irish. A special musical program will be provided by the Dawn Doherty Academy of Irish music and Sean Ruane.

Pipers will include Dermot Moore and Pat O’Hara. LAOH President Marilyn Madigan will be represented by Joan Moore.

Each year, the Bronx County Irish Language Mass at St. Barnabas has been dedicated to all those who have kept the Irish language and culture alive. To symbolize this theme, the AOH flyer depicts a Mass Rock where Gaelic speakers gathered in secret to hear outlawed Masses said by outlawed priests in defiance of English penal laws.

This year the Irish Mass will include a special theme of victims’ families “who hunger and thirst for justice”, remembering families who have been fighting for justice for loved ones murdered during the Troubles, and now face planned British amnesty laws opposed by all Irish political parties and the Catholic Bishops.

The Mass will be held in the St. Barnabas Main Church, on Martha Avenue at East 241st Street near the Bronx River Parkway, Deegan Expressway, or Metro-North Railroad, this Saturday, September 17th, at 2:30 pm. Everyone welcome!”

NYPD GFC vs FDNY GFC Sept 17, 2022

September 7, 2022 Meeting

Chris Creah (Customer Service Rep Fighting 69 Whiskey), Brian J. Sharkey, President Peter F. Whalen, Martin Bellew, and Chris Cleskowicz (Master Blender Fighting 69th Whiskey)

Thanks to Fighting 69th Whiskey Chris Leskowicz and Chris Creagh for their support of the GCUES and our affiliated organizations. Visit the Fighting69th Whiskey website for more information.

Third Annual Big Irish Campfire 2022

IrishCampfireSupplement Download

**Emerald Societies represent best of Irish wherever green is worn**

The third annual Irish Echo “Big Irish Campfire” forum and luncheon will take place on Friday, August 19, 2022, at Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801. The Grand Council of United Emerald Societies is one of the Campfire partners.

The Speakers are from major sectors including Business, Labor, Pandemic Lessons from the Great Hunger, Theatre, Arts, Politics, Literature, Sport, Heritage Museums, Irish Centers, Irish American Community Organizations, Film, Start-Ups, Travel & Tourism, Media, College Partnerships, Irish Studies, Philanthropy, and Irish Peace Process.

There will be presentations of Campfire Cara Medals to representatives of top Irish American Organizations across the USA, Panels, an Awards Luncheon, and a Celebration of the Black and the Green.

Be part of The Big Irish Campfire showcase, spotlighting Irish American organizations across the US, which will give the most comprehensive picture of the scale and scope of our community. This showcase will be a permanent online celebration of Irish America and will also appear in the print and digital versions of the Irish Echo.

Go to our Irish Campfire Page for photos, videos, and the recap of the day.

Updated 8/24/22

September 9, 2022 Fundraiser

Next Meeting

Death Notification

With much sadness, the GCUES reports the death of James Joseph Lubey (July 2, 2022), beloved husband of Kathleen Murphy Lubey, President of SCPOES and member of the GCUES Board of Directors. Please keep James and his family in your prayers. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam/”May his soul be on God’s right hand. Click for Wake and Funeral information.

A Blue and Emerald Walkout

Glenn Lynch, Brian J. Sharkey, Peter F. Whalen, Bob Scott

Big Irish Campfire 2022

The third annual Irish Echo “Big Irish Campfire” will take place on Thursday, August 18, and Friday, August 19, 2022, at Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801. The Grand Council is proud to be a sponsor of the Big Irish Campfire. Join us and explore the future of Irish America. **Click the Picture to learn more.**

Congratulations Pete Whalen

Irish Night at CitiField

President Peter F. Whalen remarks and introduction of the Honorable Edward Grayson, Commissioner, Department of Sanitation, City of New York, 2022 GCUES Irishman of the Year and Aide to Grand Marshal James Callahan. The GCUES Dinner, Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at Antun’s of Queens Village.

Honorable Edward Grayson, Commissioner, Department of Sanitation, City of New York, 2022 GCUES Irishman of the Year and Aide to Grand Marshal James Callahan.

**Great night at the NC PES dinner last night at Cresthollow Country Club. Great Job by President Sean Rourke and 1st VP Timmy Rizzuto. Congratulations to all the Honorees.**

Robert F. Algar

Past President, GCUES

Past President, SCPOES

Charter member, SCPOES

1991 GCUES Aide to the Grand Marshal of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

2001 SCPOES Man of the Year.

Bob was a New York State Police Trooper from 1960 and retired in 1983, as a Senior Investigator. In 1984 he joined the New York State Guard, attaining the rank of Brigadier General and retiring in 2002.

Robert F. Algar obituary

GCUES President Peter Whalen welcomed guest speaker Francis McLoughlin, Chairman of the Bayside Saint Patrick’s Day Parade to the May 4, 2022 meeting at The Wicked Monk. Chairman McLoughlin invited the GCUES to participate in the 2023 Bayside Parade.

Suffolk Social Meeting

Suffolk Social meeting

2022 Parades List page

**@scpdemerald @scpdpipesanddrums 2022 Saint Patrick’s Day Kick off party Thursday, February 24, 2021, 6 pm-10 pm @nappertandys.smithtown**

Queens County Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Dinner

Saturday, February 12, 2022

Congratulations to all the Honorees, especially the honorees from our affiliated organizations.

Máirtín OMuilleair and Hon. Eric Adams
PAPD ES Honorees Carl Harrison and Kenneth White
Westchester PES with Honorees Honorable John Muller and VP Scott Griffith
Mayor Adams
NYCD ES Brian J. Sharkey, Joe Ferramosca, Robert Ellis (Frontline Honoree), Roy Miller (President), Larry McArdle, Timmy Cowen
NYPD ES Mike Keenan, Brian Coughlan and GCUES President Peter F. Whalen Front row Brian Flynn, Kevin Byrnes (President), Ed Patterson