St. Patrick's Day Parade & Faire of Phoenix, Arizona

Harry Sexton - President
4th generation Arizonan married to another 4th generation Arizonan, has 5 kids and has been a Phoenix Police detective for 15 years now.

Family history: original name O'Sexton (the 'O' got dropped sometime after arrival in the U.S.) from county Tipperary. First Sexton came to North Carolina in late 1600's (indentured servitude most likely). By mid 1700's the family was now bigger and living in the 'wilds' of north-central Tennessee. My great grandfather was born in Tennessee, but raised in Missouri he then migrated to the Arizona territory in the very early 1900's to - as he put it - 'make his way in the world'. Reason for being involved with the parade committee is two-fold. In tracing my family history I discovered my Irish roots and began to learn about and have a great deal of interest in all things Irish. Then from a professional standpoint the Phoenix. Police Department wanted a liaison to the local Irish community and so I immediately volunteered.

Mary Moriarty - Vice President and Faire Chairperson
I am from New York City and moved to the Valley in 1995 when my husband Jack retired from the Police Department. My mother was from Donegal and my father's parents were from Cork and Kerry. I grew up in a very Irish house so it was natural to get involved with the Irish Community when we moved here. I joined the Irish Foundation of Arizona and then the Parade Committee. I started as Assistant Treasurer and then Co-Chaired the Faire. I have Chaired the Faire since 2003. I have worked at The Irish Cultural Center since September 2003.

Julie O'Mahar - Treasurer
Julie was raised in Milwaukee, WI. In 1978 she visited her mother, who retired in Sun City and her sister, Maureen and loved the climate and scenery. In 1979 her family moved here. She became involved in the Irish community through helping her sister Maureen who was at that time the editor of the Desert Shamrock, an Irish Newspaper, dedicated to reporting the news of interest to the Irish community here in the valley. After the death of her sister, Maureen, she took over as the editor of the Desert Shamrock and is the Executive Director of E.R.I.N., Executive Resources for Irish Networking, a business and professional organization. The O'Mahar's are 4th generation Irish and have traced their ancestry to Co. Carlow. In 2002 Julie joined the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee and every year there after has helped with the program for the Colleen Pageant and the Parade.

John Corcoran - Board Member
John was born in Castle Maine, Co. Kerry, Ireland and immigrated to Chicago as a young lad of 17. He is a founding member of the Parade committee and very active in all Irish activities. As Chairperson of the Parade, he has the responsibility for all correspondence dealing with parade entries. The parade as it exists today is the fruit of his labor.

Sandra Carroll - Secretary
Born in Wichita, Kansas. Raised in Topeka, Kansas Graduated with a Bachelor in Education from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Member of Alpha Phi Sorority. Taught kindergarten, second, third, fourth and sixth grades in elementary schools in Kansas and Nebraska. Moved to Arizona in 1972 and assisted in starting the kindergarten program in the Alhambra Elementary School District. Graduated with a Master's Degree in Education from A.S.U. in 1974. Taught kindergarten, second and first in Alhambra and retired from teaching after 31 years in 1998. Member of Phi Delta Kappa, a professional fraternity in education. While teaching, served as Vice President and President of AFT, a teachers union and served on many committees which worked to improve education within the district. After retirement, I decided to join my husband in his Irish activities. I joined the Parade Committee and subsequently was elected as Secretary for the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Faire Committee and was appointed as Chairperson of the Colleen Pageant. I have held both positions for the past 5 years. My ancestry is German on my father's side and half German and half Irish on my mother's side.

Tom Murphy - Treasurer
Since 1980, Tom has been helping small businesses and their owners reduce taxes, avoid IRS problems, expand their business, increase profitability and plan for retirement. Tom has also been very active in the Irish community for many years. His grandparents hail from County Westmeath and County Longford.