Mayo People of the Year Awards announced in New York

GLENAMOY native Rose Moloney (nee Healy) and Jimmy McMahon, whose parents hail from Kilvine and Brickens, will be honoured with the Mayo People of the Year awards at the 143rd Mayo Society of New York annual St Patrick’s Ball on March 9 at Leonard’s Palazzo, 555 Northern Blvd, Great Neck, New York.

Rose was the eighth of a family of ten born to Bridget and Michael Healy in Goola, Glenamoy. She attended Glenamoy NS and Rossport VS before leaving for New York in 1969. She resided with her brothers and sisters for some time while working in restaurants as she made her start in the city. She met Daniel Moloney from Broadford, Co Clare, soon afterwards and they married in 1974 and have a son, Daniel Moloney Jr.

They started a small business called Liffey Van Lines around 50 years ago and it grew into a substantial moving and storage company that has employed many countrymen along the way. Since Danny’s passing in 2022, Rose has continued to be at the centre of operations and is currently CEO of the company.

Rose makes regular visits home to Glenamoy and continues to support Mayo teams as she has so faithfully done down through the years.

Jimmy McMahon was born in Meath in 1969 to Nora (nee McGuinness from Brickens) and Paddy Joe McMahon from Kilvine, Irishtown. He is one of a family of eight and grew up on a farm close to the Meath-Kildare border. He attended Mulhussey NS and the Christian Brothers School in Kilcock.

In 1986 at the age of 17, he left Ireland to join his brother Michael in Brooklyn, New York. He started working in construction in New York and later became a Union carpenter.

Prior to leaving Ireland, Jimmy had shown a major interest in boxing and won an underage Leinster title. He pursued this interest further in New York and was trained by Joe Baffi who would later turn professional with hall of fame trainer, Terry Atlas. Jimmy retired from boxing at the age of 23 with a very impressive 15-0 record.

Jimmy married Lynn Feste that same year, a Brooklyn girl of Norwegian descent. They have a family of three and have resided in Rockaway, Queens, for the last fifteen years.

His company, which he established 26 years ago, is also involved in the commercial, residential and hospitality sectors in Kildare where he owns two bar and restaurant establishments (McMahon’s) in Maynooth and Celbridge. Jimmy and the McMahon family have always been hugely supportive of all things Mayo for many years.

Congratulations

THE Mayo Football Club in New York has joined in the expressions of congratulations to Rose and Jimmy ahead of the dinner. “We are thrilled to extend our support to the Mayo Society of New York for their annual Dinner Dance happening in March. We are proud to support the celebration of Rose Maloney, our esteemed Mayo Woman of the Year, and Jimmy McMahon, our distinguished Mayo Man of the Year.”

This is always the biggest night of the year for the Mayo Society in New York. The compére for the event is Michael D McAndrew from Midwest Radio who is a nephew of Rose Moloney and who also operates the popular Bessie’s Bar at Kilcummin Pier along with his wife Nollag.