The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the city, and the 262nd edition is set to take place on March 17, 2023. This year, Kevin J. Conway has been selected as the Grand Marshal, an honor he regards as a unique responsibility.
Kevin J. Conway is the vice chairman of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC, a global private equity firm, and a great-grandson of immigrants from various counties in Ireland. Speaking at the Irish Consulate on his installation, Conway expressed his gratitude for being selected as Grand Marshal for NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade and his sense of humility at following in the footsteps of so many prominent grand marshals who have gone before him.
Apart from his professional achievements, Conway is known for his philanthropic activities. Over the years, he and his wife have funded numerous scholarships, and he has personally dedicated significant time to many charities, including Catholic Health Services and several programs providing educational opportunities to disadvantaged young men and women in New York and on Long Island.
The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade’s board of directors, led by Chairman Sean Lane, unanimously voted for Conway to lead the parade. Speaking on the occasion, Lane praised Conway’s accomplishments and contributions to the community and expressed his confidence that Conway’s selection would be popular with all New Yorkers.
Conway plans to use his platform to raise awareness of food insecurity and to support organizations that feed the poor and provide food and shelter to immigrants.
Kevin Conway also spoke fondly of his Irish heritage, which he described as a “mirror of the history of the Irish in America.” His paternal great-grandfather James Conway, a native of Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, emigrated in 1885 when he was 18 and eventually became a lawyer, judge and city magistrate.
Conway’s other ancestors include his maternal great-grandfather Thomas Gilhooly, the New York-born son of immigrants who left Ireland during the Famine, and great-grandmother Rose, whose parents also fled Ireland and a house worth seven shillings. Hard work was the norm for all.