Mark Gorman

Mark Gorman, originally from Mountrath, Co. Laois, is honored to serve as the 2025 Grand Marshal of the San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade. He grew up in a close-knit family as the second youngest of seven children, with three brothers and three sisters. His mother, Philomena (née Dollard), will celebrate her 92nd birthday in January and is still an avid bingo player. His father, Patrick, passed away in 1998. Mark’s love for sport was nurtured in his home club, St. Fintan’s Mountrath, a dual club where hurling and football are played, though hurling was his true passion. Mark represented Laois in both minor hurling and football in the same year.
Sport has always been central to Mark’s life. He completed high school in Ireland and moved to San Francisco in 1990, where he continued his sporting journey. He played hurling with Na Fianna until the mid-2000s and represented Erin's Isle and Young Irelanders football teams.

In the early 2000s, John O'Flynn, then chairman of the San Francisco Youth GAA (SFYGAA), approached Mark to help introduce hurling to the younger generation in San Francisco. With the help of many others, Mark successfully brought hurling to SFYGAA, sparking a passion for the game in the city’s youth. He went on to serve as the President of the SFYGAA Board and was the lead organizer when San Francisco hosted the Continental Youth Championships on two occasions.

In 2000, Mark married his childhood sweetheart, Edel O'Rourke, and they have two children. Their daughter, Molly, is pursuing a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy in London, while their son, Evin, is studying Construction Management as a sophomore at Chico State University.

Mark is a proud advocate of Irish culture in Ireland and the U.S. and is strongly committed to giving back to the community. He also serves as a board member of the United Irish Cultural Center (UICC) in San Francisco, supporting a wide range of Irish cultural initiatives.

Gerald ( Jerry ) Cassidy

Gerrard Cassidy aka Jerry the son of Rose and John Cassidy was born in Brackley, County Cavan, a small townland in Ireland. Jerry had no middle name, they ran out of middle names because he was the baby of the family.  At 24,  Jerry was the last of  the 8 siblings to leave Ireland and meet up with four of his siblings in New York. This would be a pivotal move for Jerry - it would be there in Woodside at a dance hall in January 1964 at Papparins ballroom that he would meet his future bride Sarah Golden, aka Sally. On April 23rd, 1966 Jerry and Sally were married in Saint Teresa’s Church.  Working in New York  for a couple of years, a new adventure was starting to brew with the Gavney brothers, Seamus and Dan. It was decided in February of 1967 that they would make their way to the Golden state of California and landed in San Francisco, where the weather and the strong Irish community was the start of their future. Four decades Jerry and Dan McAuliffe painted houses and did odd jobs at the Irish Center.

Settling in San Francisco, Jerry and Sally had two children Anne and Gerald. In 1995, Anne married Ed Carew (retired SFPD Sergeant) and had Ryan, Shannon and Matthew. In 2010, Gerald married Ciara Byrne and they had Niamh and Aibhlinn. Jerry loved hanging with the kids, playing cards, being goofy and was a proud grandfather.

Jerry was a devoted Catholic and supported the decades of Saint Patrick’s day dinners at Holy Name and also stood guard as part of the “Knights of Holy Name”. Volunteering for his community was a job he took very seriously and in turn has left a legacy of outreach.

Jerry was a proud Irishman — in between his paint jobs and golfing with the Irish Golf Club, Jerry was a part of the hundreds of workers that built the Irish Center in the 1970’s. He then went on to be a part of the UICC board, helped create the Ulster Social Club and became a board member and volunteer of the United Irish Societies. For many years, him and a few others were the unofficial handymen of the Irish Center. Jerry was the warden of the 32 Irish county flags that are marched every year in the Saint Patrick’s day parade and THE guy that kept the pace of the floats moving in front of the grandstand during the Saint Patrick’s parade. He helped organize dinners, sold tickets and promoted any and all events he could. In 2013 Jerry was honored by the SF Bay Area Law Enforcement Emerald Society as citizen of the year — a very deserving award when he was recognized for supporting his Irish Community. Jerry would be super delighted to be the Honorary Grand Marshall of the 174th San Francisco Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.

Margaret Marie Gavney

Born on January 25, 1937 to Lil and Paddy Shields of County Cavan, Ireland. Marie is survived by her husband of 66 years, Seamus and six sons, Gerard (Hester), Jim (Joan), Kevin (Lisa), Garry (Kathleen), Michael (Andrea), Peter (Aine). Devoted Nannie to Megan (Kevin), Danny, Kevin, Stephen, Scott, Shane, Brooke, Conor, Naomi, Ryan and Great Grandmother to Mia and Owen.

Marie and Seamus emigrated to America in 1959 to Brooklyn, New York where they married and started a family. They eventually moved to San Francisco and set-tled in the Sunset District where they added a couple more boys to the clan. On top of this, Marie was an RN at Laguna Honda Hospital for 20+ years.

Above all, she treasured her family, both here and abroad. Though she left Ireland many years ago, her con-nections there remained strong. She kept in touch con-stantly and never missed an opportunity to travel to Ire-land. She was the beloved sister of Elish (Tony) Duffy, Ann (the late John) McNally and the late Michael (Mary) Shields. Adoring Aunt of many nieces and nephews in Ireland, England, and New York.

Beyond being a mother and Nurse, Mom was a dear and supportive friend to so many. She was an active member of the United Irish Cultural Center, The Ancient Order of Hibernians and The Ulster Social Club.

Marie had a gift of bringing people together. Tuesday night dinners at Mom’s were a staple for nearly 20 years. She hosted all of us and a few more. Her easygoing and relaxed personality made it look easy. Little did we know how these dinners helped us stay together as a family. We could laugh and celebrate the good times and support each other during the difficult times.

Sister Edith Hurley

Sister Mary Edith Hurley was born on November 15, 1920 in San Francisco, Aileen Patricia Hurley was the first of three children born to John and Margaret Hurley, natives of Co. Cork, Ireland. Together with her siblings Margaret and Joe, Aileen grew up in St. Peter’s Parish in the Mission District and was immersed in the Irish community. Aileen learned Irish Step dancing at Healy’s and continued to dance into her 90s.  She followed her parents as an active member of the Rebel Cork Ladies Association and the Hibernians. Over the years Aileen continued to be an important member of the groups, serving as chaplain and   joining them for many events including the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

A year after graduating from St. Peter’s Academy, Aileen entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1939 and made her profession of vows in 1942 when she was given the name Sister Mary Edith.  She taught students in schools in Southern California but was always delighted to be assigned to schools in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She was a beloved teacher at St. Catherine’s and Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame, St. Bartholomew in San Mateo, St. Anthony in Oakland, and in San Francisco at St. Peter’s, St. Gabriel’s, St. Stephen’s, and Holy Name. She kept class photos of all classes she taught and stayed in touch with many former students. Sister lived her 102 years with joy and pride in her Irish heritage.

A delightful member of the Mercy community, Sister Edith was known for her easy outgoing manner, delightful sense of humor and her welcoming hospitality to all.