Aides to the Grand Marshal 2026

Jim Dwyer - Aide for the County Cork Association

Jimmy Dwyer was born March 22nd, 1946. He’ll be celebrating his 80th birthday by marching up the avenue! He was raised in Bayonne, he  graduated from St. Andrew’s School and Marist High School. He has Irish  roots on both sides of his family. His father, John, emigrated from Co.  Roscommon in 1930 while his Mother, Mary, was born in Bayonne. His  maternal grandmother, Mary Kane, was born in Drimoleague, in West  Cork. Jimmy still has cousins who live there.  

Jimmy was surrounded by Irish songs and stories growing up. At the age  of 7 his father would take him to Campbell’s Tavern on the Boulevard to  sing The Wild Colonial Boy. John and Mary were long time members of  The Corkmen’s Club and regularly had parties in their house where well dressed men and women sang the night away! 

While in college Jimmy learned the guitar and played for school events  and the occasional pub gig. He hasn’t stopped singing. After college he  sang exclusively for 4 years before going into the airline industry with KLM  Airlines. This job offered him great opportunities to travel the world. He  has been to Ireland over 50 times. 

Jimmy has been married to his wife, Roberta, for nearly 55 years. Their  daughter, Tara, lives in Delaware with her husband John and Jimmy’s two  granddaughters, Kelly & Erin. 

In 1981 he formed his current band, The Bantry Boys, to honor his Cork  heritage. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the band, which  coincidentally is the same year the parade began. The Bantry Boys are a  perennial favorite at the post parade party and they finish every night with a  rousing rendition of The Boys from the County Cork. Up Cork!!!

Emily Gill - Aide for the County Donegal Association

Emily Gill of Bayonne NJ is the youngest of three children born to  Christopher Gill and Eileen McGarvey Gill. Emily’s parents were both born  and raised in Bayonne and are life-long residents. Emily’s paternal  grandparents are the late Dolores McCulligan Gill and the late Alexander  Gill. Her maternal grandparents are Clare Conway McGarvey and the late  Patrick McGarvey. Emily's paternal lineage can be traced to Dublin,  County Donegal and County Mayo, and her maternal ancestors hail from  County Donegal and County Tyrone. Emily has two brothers - Alex, of  Philadelphia, PA, and Ian, of Bayonne.

Emily graduated from Horace Mann School and Saint Dominic Academy,  and has a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Fordham  University. Emily was inducted into Fordham's Alpha Sigma Nu Honor  Society and graduated Summa Cum Laude. In addition to her studies at  Fordham, Emily was actively involved in leadership roles in the University's  Dance Marathon for all four years, which raised money for The B+  Foundation, an organization that provides financial assistance to families of  pediatric cancer patients. Fordham Dance Marathon raised over  $430,000.00 for this cause across Emily's four years of involvement. 

Emily has been employed by Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation  (DTCC) for over three years, where she is currently a Business Analyst on  the Technology Research and Innovation Team. Emily’s focus is to identify  and lead projects that leverage innovative technology to solve complex  business challenges. Additionally, Emily co-leads an "Empowering Women  Circle", focused on mutual empowerment and professional growth in the  workplace. 

Emily is also an active member of, and employed as a fitness instructor at  Training For Warriors (TFW) in Bayonne, a fitness gym centered around  physical conditioning with a deep focus on holistic health. Emily coaches  both strength and cardio classes, and supports various fundraising efforts  led by TFW.  Emily is a member of the County Donegal Association of Bayonne and the  Shamrock Society of Bayonne.

Eileen (Farley) Feuer - Aide for the Irish American League of Bayonne

Eileen Farley Feuer proudly embraces her Irish heritage; she has deep  family roots in County Mayo, Ireland- UP MAYO! Her grandparents both  emigrated from County Mayo, having lived just one town apart, yet they did  not meet until arriving in The United States-where their shared journey truly  began. Together, they raised four children including their daughter Anna. 

Anna went on to marry Joe Farley, and together they built a lively family of  seven children, including Eileen, their youngest. Eileen graduated from  Bayonne High School, where she met the love of her life, Larry Bird Feuer.  The two married and went on to raise three beautiful children; Sean, Ryan,  and Kayla, who are her pride and joy. 

Before starting her family, Eileen worked for the City of Bayonne. She later  devoted herself to raising her children before returning to the workforce,  where she currently serves as an Administrative Assistant for the Bayonne  Board of Education, a position she continues to hold with pride and  dedication. She is a proud member of the Irish American League, honoring  and celebrating her County Mayo roots and Irish heritage. 

In 2018, Eileen traveled to Ireland with her family, where she visited County  Mayo and had the unforgettable experience of meeting relatives for the first  time; further deepening her connection to her Irish roots.

Suzanne Neary - Aide for the Shamrock Society of Bayonne

Suzanne Neary is the adopted daughter of William and Joan Brunner. She  was raised in Carteret with her older brother, Billy, before moving to  Bayonne in the third grade, where she attended Horace Mann School.  Upon graduating, she attended Bayonne High School and later St. Peter’s  College, where she earned a degree in Communications. 

Suzanne has enjoyed a 35-year career in media that began at WPLJ  Radio. There, she performed on-air voiceovers, conducted music and sales  research, co-produced The Bill Aires and Ron Johnson Shows, and  delivered metro traffic reports.

After leaving radio, she worked for Katz Television Sales Group before  transitioning to the buying side of television advertising. She went on to  work for several of New York’s top advertising agencies, managing major  accounts such as Procter & Gamble, Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Warner  Brothers, and McDonald’s. Throughout her career, she held roles including  Senior Broadcast Media Negotiator, Radio Buying Supervisor, Account  Reconciliations Manager, and Budget Project Manager for Popeyes. 

After leaving the corporate world, Suzanne began working at the William  Shemin Midtown Community School in Bayonne, where she is currently  one of three executive administrative assistants. She has held this position  for the past two and a half years. 

In June 1993, Suzanne met Sean Neary. Six years later, in June 1999, they  were married in County Mayo, Ireland. In June 2001, she became the  mother of Shannon Neary. Inspired by her daughter’s curiosity about their  Irish heritage, Suzanne completed a DNA test, which revealed that she is  40% Irish and led to the discovery of her biological family. Her Irish lineage  can be traced through both parents, with her father’s roots in County Cork  and her mother’s family originating from Dublin County. 

Although she was raised in a loving Polish-Slavic family, Suzanne has  wholeheartedly embraced Irish culture. Through her husband of 26 years,  Sean, her daughter Shannon—a former Mary of Dungloe—and her  extended Irish family both in the United States and Ireland, she has  developed a deep appreciation for the Irish people, traditions, and culture.