Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Common Council President Chris Scanlon alongside other local elected officials and representatives of the Buffalo Irish Center unveiled on Friday a trailblazing sign in honor of the late Mary Heneghan.
"I had the tremendous privilege of working alongside Mrs. Hannigan from the time I started with the council in 2012," said Scanlon. "Right up until her passing, witnessing first-hand her unwavering dedication to this building and the Irish culture that surrounds it. She recognized the importance of it not only to this neighborhood, but to the entire region."
Mary Heneghan was the longtime director of the Buffalo Irish Center and the proud proprietor of the Tara Gift Shoppe on Abbott Road. Her instrumental role in fostering the Gaelic American Athletic Association underscores her enduring influence on both the cultural and sporting tapestry of Buffalo.
"She dedicated her life to the perseverance of Irish heritage and not the some of the silly stereotypes that you might see portrayed from time to time. I don't think she cared for that a whole lot. But instead, she was focused on educating people and promoting the true riches of Irish culture, literature, music, dance, language, faith, and the history of the Irish people both abroad here in this country and in particular, here in Western New York," Scanlon added.
"Mary dedicated much of her life to this community to promoting the Irish in Western New York, to our Irish center. But she also spearheaded getting this area designated as the Irish Heritage district. And so I can't think of a better legacy than having a stretch of that named in her honor. And certainly she is someone we will all look up to. And I hope that many generations of our Irish community continue to try and model themselves after her," said Tim Flanagan, board chair of the Buffalo Irish Center.
"It is incredibly emotional," said Shannon, daughter of Mary. "I think that we have to just remember everything that she has taught us and brought to this community between the dance, the storytelling, the music, and everything that the Irish community represents."
The unveiling ceremony, which coincided with what would have been Mary Heneghan's 78th birthday, held additional significance as it marked the commencement of Women's History Month and heralded the forthcoming celebration of St. Patrick's Day.