On Thursday, March 18, 2021, in celebration of Irish Heritage Month, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. made stops around the borough to recognize essential workers who have been giving back to the community this past year during the COVID-19 pandemic. These visits were part of a series of socially distant events being held to recognize essential workers in the borough, the events were not open to the public, and strict COVID-19 safety protocols were in place. The events were sponsored by Empire BlueCross BlueShield.
“Every year during March we gather to celebrate Irish-American Heritage Month and the remarkable role the Irish community has played in building our borough, our city and our nation,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “The Bronx is a community that brings many diverse cultural experiences together, and I am always honored to highlight the role that our Irish and Irish-American neighbors have played in making The Bronx and New York City the amazing places they are today. While we were not able to gather together in the same way we traditionally would, I am thrilled we were able to recognize these individuals for their hard work throughout their careers and during this pandemic.”
This year’s honorees included Deputy Assistant Chief Christopher Boyle and Deputy Chief Brian Murphy of The FDNY and EMS, as well as Marianne O’Shea, the Clinical Director of Nursing for Invasive Cardiology at Montefiore.