Dorothy Hayden Cudahy:DOROTHY HAYDEN Cudahy, who has died aged 88, was the first woman grand marshal of the St Patrick's Day parade in New York. Known as the "First Lady of Irish Radio", she also presented the popular Irish Memories programme for 47 years.
In 1985 she challenged the rule that barred women from holding the position of grand marshal. She famously remarked: “I do not wish to be pushy, but there is no reason to wait.”
Notwithstanding the support of the New York Times, the old order prevailed. But only for a year; the rules were changed in 1986 and she stood for election.
Asked what the attributes of a grand master were, she said: “I think the grand master should be very knowledgeable in Irish music, sports, dance and literature. She should be very knowledgeable about the political situation in Ireland and be able to speak up on it. That’s me.”
She failed to be elected in 1986, however, but persevered and was successful in 1989. Her opponent also was a woman. “I presume they didn’t have a viable candidate in the males,” Hayden Cudahy said.
Albert Reynolds, then minister for finance, accepted an invitation to take part in the parade despite opposition allegations that she was too close to the IRA support group Noraid. Her defeated opponent Mary Holt Moore went on to lead the 1990 parade and Maureen O’Hara subsequently did the honours.
Born in 1922, Dorothy Hayden was the daughter of James Hayden, a native of Ballyraggett, Co Kilkenny, and Delia Brennan, from Curry, Co Sligo.
She grew up on the west side of Manhattan, and graduated from the New York Institute of Technology.
In 1960 she was one of the first meter maids for the New York City Department of Traffic, and in 1982 retired as a senior official of the city’s transportation department.
Her broadcasting career began in 1943 after her father died. He had presented a Sunday evening radio programme on WEVD, a station founded to honour the memory of the labour leader Eugene Debs.
Despite some misgivings among the station’s managers – women broadcasters were few and far between – she took over the slot, and made a great success of it.
Broadcast from the Empire State Building, the programme was relayed by various local stations including Fordham’s WFUV.
She regularly visited Ireland, returning with the latest recordings and introducing new performers to her listeners. Her playlist ranged from John McCormack and Delia Murphy, to Carmel Quinn and Connie Foley to the Clancys, Bothy Band and Planxty.
She also formed the Dorothy Hayden Entertainers comprising singers, dancers and musicians, which performed in a number of east coast cities. In 1951, the group appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
By now married to John Cudahy, and a mother, she remained active in the Irish American community. With Paul O’Dwyer she was a founding member and trustee of the Irish Institute of New York.
She was the first woman, and first American-born, president of the city’s Kilkenny Association and was Chief Brehon of the Great Irish Fair in Brooklyn. She also was a member of the Ladies’ Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Having retired from broadcasting in 1990, she donated her personal papers and vast collection of records to the Archives of Irish America at New York University in 1996.
Predeceased by her husband in 1994 and their son Seán in 1997, she is survived by her grand-daughter Mary Kate, nieces and nephews.
Dorothy Hayden Cudahy: born May 29th, 1922; died August 5th, 2010