Celebrating Irish heritage; Woodmere resident honored

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Woodmere resident Sean O’Rourke was one of six people that the Town of Hempstead recognized as part of its first-ever Irish-American heritage celebration, which is dedicated to honoring exceptional Irish-American residents who have made a positive difference in their communities while embracing and promoting Irish heritage and culture.

O’Rourke is a retired NYPD detective who is very involved in the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Irish Catholic fraternal organization.

Also honored were Kathryn Driscoll Hopkins of Garden City, chief clerk of Nassau County Supreme Court; John Murray Jr., owner of Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh; Don Ryan of Hempstead, a long-time public servant and Mayor-elect; Donna Ryan, Levittown community volunteer; and a posthumous tribute to Steven McDonald, the NYPD detective from Malverne who became an international hero when he forgave the teen who shot him and left him as a quadriplegic.