Michael Gibbons Becomes 248th Grand Marshal

On Tuesday afternoon, the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee announced that the Grand Marshal of the 248th Parade will be Michael J. Gibbons, President of the Ireland-U.S. Council, the former Executive Vice President and General Manager of Estee Lauder and a member of the Lt. Patrick J. Walsh Division 29 A.O.H.

Mr. Gibbons will lead the marchers up Fifth Avenue on Tuesday March 17, 2009 for the 248th Parade. The Parade is the world's oldest and largest civic parade and celebrates the faith of Ireland, Irish heritage and culture.

John Dunleavy, Chairman of the Parade said, "We are truly delighted that Mike Gibbons has been unanimously selected as the 2009 Grand Marshal. He is a man who is beloved in New York's Irish-American community. He is an outstanding American who has devoted a huge amount of his considerable energy and charisma to building enduring and durable ties between Ireland and America. We know that his selection will be a widely popular one."

Michael J. Gibbons was raised in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, his father hailing from County Mayo and his mother born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada of Scots-Irish descent.

He graduated from St. Francis College in Brooklyn and served in the U.S. Navy. Joining Estee Lauder, Inc., the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of quality cosmetic productrs, he served as Vice President of Clinique and General Manager of Aramis, before retiring in 2007.

He is currently the President of the Ireland-U.S. Council - an organization dedicated to promoting business bonds and commercial connnections between Ireland and America.

During his six years at the helm, the Council's roster of programs and activities has been expanded and its stature has grown on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Council operates a variety of scholarship and internship programs, stages seminars and hosts frequent events in Ireland and in the United States.

He is currently a Director of Flax Trust America, a member of the Mayo Society of New York and a Director of The Irish Institute. He is also a Member of The Taoiseach's Economic Advisory Board in the United States and a former Chairman of the International Center in New York, a private, not-for-profit organization that welcomes and assists immigrants and refugees to America.

He is a past-Director of the American Ireland Fund, the Eugene O'Neill Theater Foundation and the former co-chairman of the Knights of St. Patrick.

Mr Gibbons and his wife, Cynthia, have four children and four grandchildren. They live in Palm Beach, Florida and Carmel, New York.