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Congratulations to Margaret Kirby Foley and James Kirby for being named Grand Marshals of the 2015 Kings Park
St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Naming two Grand Marshals is a first for the Kings Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Margaret and James are both
proud Kings Park natives and just happen to be sister and brother.​

Margaret and James, along with siblings Pat and Dennis, are the children of Peg and Dennis Kirby. Born in New Jersey, the Kirby family moved to Kings Park when Margaret and James were very young. Their grandparents hailed from County Mayo.

Margaret married the love of her life, Frank, and together they raised seven children; Patricia, Mary, Michael, Dennis, Thomas, James and Mark. They have been graced with seven grandchildren and a great grandchild, Aubrey Jean. Sadly, Frank passed away in 2011, as did their son Tommy in 2013.

James and his lovely wife Beatrice have raised two children, Kelley and the late James Jr. They have two grandchildren, Allison and Jimmy.

Margaret graduated from St. Joseph’s School in 1940. She then attended St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay and St. Catherine’s Hospital Nursing School in Brooklyn. Margaret cared for community members while working at Huntington Hospital, St. John’s Hospital in Smithtown and St. Johnland Nursing Home in Kings Park.

After graduating from St. Joseph’s in 1941, James attended Kings Park High School where he graduated in 1945. James attended Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center School of Nursing, received a Bachelors of Science degree from Adelphi University in 1959 and thereafter attended Cornell University, School of Labor Relations.
James, a proud United States Navy WWII veteran, served as Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Social Services from 1965 until his retirement in 1983. He also served as Secretary and Assistant Treasurer for the Board of Fire Commissioners from 1990 through 2008.

Both Margaret and James not only hold a deep love for family, but also for community. Margaret has successfully served as Vice Regent in the Catholic Daughters in Kings Park and has done extensive fundraising for the Sisters of St. Dominic in Amityville. James, among other community affiliations, has been active in the Father Seyfried Council Knights of Columbus, Donald C. Munro American Legion Post #944, Smithtown Fire Department, Smithtown Booster Club, Smithtown Elks and United Way of Long Island.

Margaret and James have unselfishly served family and community their entire lives and as such have proudly been chosen as Grand Marshals of the 2015 Kings Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade.