The Irish American Heritage Society has announced its dignitaries for the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17.
“This year’s Grand Marshal, Irish Lady of the Year, and Irish Family of the Year have each made remarkable contributions to the society and the local Irish-American community, embodying the spirit of heritage, service and tradition,” the Augusta group said in a statement.
The dignitaries, announced at the 2025 Irish American Heritage Society Grand Marshal Ball, are:
- Grand Marshal, Raymond “Ray” Brady. Brady is a former president and parade chairman who has built a career in financial advising and whose daughter is a former society president. “You hope someday this might happen, and you even let yourself envision it. Then you get that call and get all nostalgic. I’m just so very flattered,” Brady said after learning of his selection.
- Irish Lady of the Year, Philomena “Phil” Mooney. Originally from Galway, Ireland, Mooney is a lifelong advocate for Irish dance and tradition who founded the Augusta Irish Dancers and Antrim Academy of Irish Dance. Her work with Catholic Social Services has raised millions of dollars and her family was named Irish Family of the Year in 1991 and her mother Irish Lady of the Year in 2016. “I’ve looked up to so many of the ladies in the society. To be in the ranks of all those wonderful women is truly a blessing,” Mooney said.
- Irish Family of the Year, the Thomas “Tommy” Poteet Family. With ancestry tracing back to County Mayo and County Cork, Ireland, the Poteet Family has been a cornerstone of Augusta’s Irish-Catholic community for generations. Family patriarch Tommy Poteet was the 32nd charter member of the society and remains one of its eldest past presidents. “Our parents raised us to value our faith and be proud of our Irish heritage,” one family member shared. “We are truly honored to receive this recognition.”
