Mayo Society of New York Honorees 2023

The Mayo Society of New York will pay tribute to two outstanding Mayo people at our society's 142nd Annual St Patrick's Ball on March 11, 2023.

Dawn Doherty will be honored as Mayo Woman of the Year and Brendan Armstrong as Mayo Man of the Year.

This event will take place at Antun's, 96-43 Springfield Blvd, Queens Village, NY. Cocktails are at 7.00pm followed by dinner and dancing at 8.00pm.

The Celtic Cross will provide the music for this evening's celebrations.

Tickets are $100.00 per person or a table of ten for $1000.00. For reservations, please contact Rita Lydon Lenz Tel: 516- 221-4834, or Betty Mc Loughlin Tel: 347-613-1303.

The deadline for the Journal ads is February 24, 2023.

For additional information, please contact Journal Chairperson Mary Coyne Byrne Tel: 917-282-5538. Email: mayosocietyofny@gmail.com

Mayo Woman of the Year 2023: Dawn Doherty

Dawn Doherty, was born in NYC and raised in Castiebar Co. Mayo Ireland.

She developed a love of Irish music having been immersed into music ancl singing at an early age by her mother Maryanne and Father Joe both with a family history of music. Dawn is a several time All-Ireland champion musician and singer. Throughout her musical career she has competed at various competitions. including Fleadh Cheoil an Oireachias, Readoiri and Scor and has won several All-Ireland titles in these various compelitions.

Dawn has per-formed profess1onaily as both a solo artist and as part or CCE Comhc1ltas group throughout the United States and Europe witn the Castlebar CCE. Co Mayo Pursuing her passion for music and teaching, Dawn received an Honors BA Degree in lnsh Music and Dance from the lnsh World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick in Ireland and an Honor Master's Degree in Music Therapy.

After graduating from the University of Limerick, Dawn worked in Cherry Orchard hospital Dublin as a Music Therapist working with adults with neurological disabilities and privately with children and adults with special needs ill hospitals nursing homes and primary schools ali over Connaught.

After Dawn moved to NY, she went back io school to study for her second Master's Degree. ancl graduated with First Class Honors from Lehman College University with a Masters Degree in Science and Education. Special Education in 2016.

Dawns music background is extensive and she hails from a famiy of musicians. However, she credits her grandmother, Sarah Lynskey who hailed from the Gaeltacht area of Beimu!let. Co Mayo for introducing her to the Sean-nos style of singing. She has mastered this style over the years and has performed annually as a guest artist for the St. Patrick's Day festivities in St Patrick's Cathedral Dawn has performed for many Mayors and dignitaries over the years in and out of New York City.

She was invited to perform in prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center in NYC and Wolf Trap, Virginia with the legendary Country and Western music siar Ricky Skaggs. Since her time in NY, Dawn has started her own Academy of Irish Music and Singing at the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers. She currently has close to 100 students attending Irish Music and Singing Classes.

Dawn is also the Music Director of the Aisling Irish Center Ballad Group and 1s Co-director of the Aisling lnsh Center Ce iii Band along with her teaching partner Frankie McCormick Both groups have been a huge success here in NY wmning the Irish Echo Arts & Culture Awards and appearing on the RTE Late Late Christmas Toy Show in Ireland. and News 12 Christmas Day They traveled by invitation to County Mayo this past summer and played on stage in the Roya! Theater Castlebar. with world renowned Irish Mus1c1ans and Singers.

Dawn was recognized by the Irish Echo for the 40 under 40 awards in 2019, and won the People's Choice Award. She is an advocate for promoting Irish language and her students host a monthly Irish Music Mass at Saint Barnabas for the past number of years.

Mayo Man of the Year 2023 - Brendan Armstrong

Brendan Francis Armstrong, son of Mary B Armstrong (nee Killion, February, 1927 - ) of Clooncagh, Co, Roscommon and William F Armstrong (January 1923 – May 1970) of Manulla, Co. Mayo, was born on October 31, 1959, in Brooklyn, NY. Brendan, the third of four brothers, William (Billy), James (Jim) and John (Jack) Armstrong, grew up on Quentin Road and attended St. Brendan’s Grammar School, Nazareth Regional High School and St. Francis College, Brendan married his high school sweetheart, Maureen Armstrong (nee Moriarty) of St. , Brendan’s Parish, Brooklyn, in 1983, and are the proud parents of four sons, Brendan Jr. (Kristina), Patrick, Liam (Marisa), and Colin - also proud grandparents to Brendan III (2022). Brendan and his family currently reside in Northern Virginia with a residence in Rockaway Beach, NY and are members of both St. Timothy Parish and St. Francis De Sales.

At the age of 21 , Brendan worked in Security at Madison Square Garden, Yankee and Shea Stadiums. Shortly thereafter, Brendan began a career in telecom, where he spent 16 years and departed as a Regional President of PageNet, Inc. In early 2002, Brendan started Trinity Wiring & Security Solutions, a residential and commercial networking and security company that provides solutions throughout the East Coast. Working alongside his four sons, Trinity has continued to provide services to residential customers, commercial and, government enterprises for the last 20 years.

Brendan and his family enjoy traveling “home to Ireland” each year to spend time with family and friends while enjoying an occasional round of golf, particularly Belmullett and Castlebar. A real highlight was having the opportunity to attend the Mayo GAA rematch game in Dublin. After 20+ years of traveling to Ireland regularly, Brendan maintains a strong connection with his Irish relatives and relishes in the value of Irish history, culture, and music. Brendan and Maureen have always made it a point to raise their children to repesect their Catholic Faith and Irish Heritgage, with the core values of hard work, compassion, intergrity & humility.