Read more: President Mary McAleese declines St. Patrick's Day NYC Grand Marshal invite
Read more: Manhattan Diary - Why Irish gays march under their own banners in St. Pat's Parade
The Grand Marshal for the 250th St.Patrick’s Day Parade in New York will be thriller writer Mary Higgins Clark Irishcentral.com has learned.
She will be officially announced as the 2011 honoree by the parade committee on Monday, November 8th at the Irish Consulate in New York.
The parade committee had initially asked Irish president Mary McAleese to be the honoree on the 250th anniversary but she turned them down because she did not want her office to become embroiled in the gays in the parade issue.
Higgins Clark will be 83-years-old on St. Patrick’s Day 2011 and is the highest selling suspense writer in America. All 42 of her books are still in print.
Her books have sold more than 80 million copies in the United States.
She is a former medalist and is a current board member of the American Irish Historical Society.
She is the daughter of Irish immigrant Luke and Nora Clarke, of Irish descent, and she grew up in the Great Depression in The Bronx.
Her father owned a bar and the family remained well off comparatively speaking. However her father died young leaving her mother a widow and mother of three growing children.
Soon after her father’s death her young brother almost died from a foot infection and Higgins Clark believed he was saved by the power of prayer.
After graduation she worked as an air hostess for Pan Am and married her husband, Warren Clark, with whom she had four children .
When he died of a heart attack (her mother-in-law was so shocked she died at his bedside) she took to writing to pay college tuition for her children and proved spectacularly successful after a rocky start.
A devoted Catholic she has won the highest papal honor Dame of Saint Gregory and continues to support many Catholic charities.
Read more: President Mary McAleese declines St. Patrick's Day NYC Grand Marshal invite
Read more: Manhattan Diary - Why Irish gays march under their own banners in St. Pat's Parade
22 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.arialgirl | Nov 07, 2010, 11:01 AM EST
Very happy to hear this news as I think Mary is a good choice. The wording is confusing though. Ms Higgins Clark will, in deed, be 83 on St Patrick's Day but she'll have turned 83 on Christmas Eve. This article makes it sound as though her birthday is on 3/17.
mcdolan | Nov 07, 2010, 01:02 AM EDT
Well deserved; has always been a supporter of the NY Irish community.
hallfitz | Nov 06, 2010, 04:13 PM EDT
An excellent choice.........she has style and grace. Enjoyed her books but her best one in not a mystery but an historical novel about George & Martha Washington........the characters come to life.
etig1130 | Nov 05, 2010, 05:16 PM EDT
I think it's an excellent choice. However she's a "devoted" Catholic; that won't sit well with the readers of this fine publication.
lookbackkid | Nov 05, 2010, 04:48 PM EDT
As an Irish American I am so pleased that a woman has been selected. Dorothy Hayden and Maureen O'Hara are a few that spring to mind in recent years. Women are few but it is not quantity but guality that counts. Eighty three years glad Mary had good genes. Enjoy the day Mary you deserve it.
mayoman | Nov 05, 2010, 03:35 PM EDT
A very good choice indeed.
mayoman | Nov 05, 2010, 03:34 PM EDT
A very good choice indeed.
mayoman | Nov 05, 2010, 03:34 PM EDT
A very choice indeed.
hollabackgurl | Nov 05, 2010, 02:15 PM EDT
That's not an ageist or bigoted statement, it's a genuine question. How could an 83 year old possibly march 30 blocks? Woundedknee you're out of your mind and your desperate to tar people with your own brush.
WoundedKnee | Nov 05, 2010, 02:09 PM EDT
barebackgirl: "Will she make it through the whole parade" Are all homosexuals ageists like you? You bigoted idiot.
WoundedKnee | Nov 05, 2010, 02:09 PM EDT
Irishfez: You're a fool. But I guess you already knew that.
coolnana | Nov 05, 2010, 01:31 PM EDT
I think it is Great choice . My sister & I come to NYC on St . Patrick's Day From Florida.. We grew up in Ny and we love it, Proud of our Irish hertiage , So It nice to see one of our own being honored .
irishwriter | Nov 05, 2010, 12:52 PM EDT
I have had the pleasure of interviewing her many times and this in my mind is the quintessential representative of what all Irish Americans should aspire to: honoring your heritage with style, grace, wit, and grit. I love this woman dearly and thank her for her inspiration. Her daughter Carol is wonderful as well....great ladies!!!!!
Dublinjas | Nov 05, 2010, 12:41 PM EDT
Great Lady Great Choice...p/s If you gay people cannot behave yourselves then we are going to have to consider banning Cork from the parade altogether.
BrendanPKeane | Nov 05, 2010, 12:22 PM EDT
Congratulations to Mary Higgins Clark, fine choice.
MurrayGirl | Nov 05, 2010, 11:12 AM EDT
Congratulations! Wonderful choice!
mcginleynj | Nov 05, 2010, 10:53 AM EDT
Great Choice! She will do it justice. Congratulations to Mary Higgins Clark.
irishfez | Nov 05, 2010, 10:26 AM EDT
So basically she is the leftover piece of crap that will represent the narrow minded bigots? What an honor Mary!
Searlit | Nov 05, 2010, 10:11 AM EDT
What a personal story!
barbaranne | Nov 05, 2010, 09:29 AM EDT
I agree; this is a terrific choice. I will definitely be among the millions cheering her!
hollabackgurl | Nov 05, 2010, 09:18 AM EDT
Isn't she 83? Will she make it through the whole parade?
GeorgeDillon | Nov 05, 2010, 09:16 AM EDT
I think this is a good choice. A million times better than that unelected loudmouth McAleese. Hope Mary Higgins Clark has a great time on 3/17/11.