Community Corner

Montclair's Byrne Named 'Young Irishman of the Year'

Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Oranges to host honoree at anniversary dinner next week.

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Oranges today announced that Montclair resident, Michael D. Byrne, has been named “Young Irishman of the Year” and will be the guest of honor during its 113th Anniversary dinner on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at the Mayfair Farms restaurant, 481 Eagle Rock Ave., West Orange, NJ.

Byrne, president of Pilgrim Strategies, LLC, will be honored for his work as General Chairman of the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee - the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in New Jersey. Additionally, William B. McGuire, Esq., a founding partner of the Newark law firm of Tompkins, McGuire and a past president of the New Jersey State Bar Association, will be the Guest Speaker at the event.

The evening will commence with a 6:30 cocktail hour. The West Orange Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Pipers and harpist Elaine Christy of Princeton will entertain. Reservations for the black tie preferred event can be obtained from Patricia J. Cambouris, c/o Lowenstein Sandler, LLP, 65 Livingston Ave., Roseland, NJ 07068, 973-422-2974.

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Part of the dinner’s proceeds will be donated to Project Children, which brings together Catholic and Protestant children from Northern Ireland on visits to the U.S., and part to the Irish Way Program of the Irish American Cultural Institute, which awards scholarships to Irish American high school students for summer study in Ireland, according to McNany.

Raised in Montclair, where he still resides, Byrne attended Seton Hall Prep, graduated from Montclair High School and from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California, where he was manager of the school’s Irish-Catholic band. He has been active in local and state politics, Irish-American and other organizations and volunteer activities since a young age.

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In 2013 Byrne was the Campaign Manager of Steve Lonegan’s New Jersey run for the US Senate and in prior years was employed on political campaigns in Ohio, New Mexico and California and consulted on campaigns in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Massachusetts.   He currently manages the U.S. Senate Campaign of Col. Rob Maness in Louisiana. 

From 2010 to 2012 he was the Manager/Executive Director of the Gallup, New Mexico, Business Improvement District, Inc., in Historic Downtown Gallup – The Indian Capital of the World and Adventure Capital of New Mexico, and is a Board Member of the Land of Enchantment Opera.

He is presently chairman of the NYC Chapter of the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Regents, Membership Chairman of the 100 Club of Montclair, a member of the Troop Committee of Montclair Troop 13, BSA, from which troop he earned his Eagle Scout rank in 1997, a member of the Montclair Fourth of July Parade Committee, the Montclair Division 9, Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Montclair Council 1277, K of C.

Submitted by Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Oranges


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