State Assemblyman Bill Moen addresses more than 100 guests on March 8 during the first annual Irish American Month Leadership Breakfast at Elizabeth’s Ballroom in Gloucester City.
State Assemblyman Bill Moen has sponsored a bill that urges the British government to abide by the Good Friday Agreement signed in 1998 that bought peace to Northern Ireland after 30 years of what were called “The Troubles.”
The measure urges Congress to oppose trade agreements with the British unless the Good Friday Agreement and other Irish peace elements are preserved. Brokered by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, the agreement was signed by the U.S., the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and has a provision that enables the Brits to call for a referendum uniting Ireland that would have to be approved by Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland voters.
England ruled the entire country from the mid-12th century on. After a war of independence by Irish rebels, the British carved out six counties to form Northern Ireland in 1922.
“Personally, I support the reunification of Ireland and sponsored this New Jersey Assembly resolution to forward this progress,” explained Moen, whose district includes Audubon, Barrington, Collingswood, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Mount Ephraim, Merchantville, Pennsauken and others in Camden County, and Deptford, Woodbury Heights and Woodbury in Gloucester County.
Moen has been a big supporter of Ireland, and was a previous grand marshal of the Gloucester City St. Patrick’s Day parade. On March 8, he was the guest speaker at the first Irish American Month Leadership Breakfast at Elizabeth’s Ballroom in Gloucester City.
When longtime Monsignor William Hodge decided a decade ago to seek a parade honoring St. Patrick in the city, he planted a seed that has grown into the premier Irish celebration in South Jersey.
“Over the last 10 years, the parade has really evolved into an important cultural event not only for Gloucester City, but for South Jersey,” Moen observed during the breakfast. The event was sponsored by the nonpartisan New Jersey Irish Society.
“The annual festivities showcase Irish entertainment,” he added, “traditional Mummers groups, local community organizations and businesses. The parade’s success is obvious as we see the crowd size continuing to grow year after year. It’s one of my favorite days of the year to join others in celebrating our Irish heritage.”
The assemblyman noted that the New Jersey Irish Society has been instrumental in organizing the annual parade and thought the breakfast would be a great way to celebrate its last 10 years of success.
“It was a truly special morning in Gloucester City, as I had the pleasure to serve as emcee of the New Jersey Irish Society’s Irish American Month Leadership Breakfast,” Moen noted. “We welcomed over 100 people to the Holy City (as Gloucester is known) and we celebrated the first 10 years of Gloucester City’s St. Patrick’s Parade and the individuals who were critical in ensuring its success.”
Attending the event along with members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Commodore John Barry Division 1, were Congressman Donald Norcross; state Sen. Nilsa Cruz Perez; Camden County Commissioners Ed McDonnell, Jeffrey Nash and Virginia Betteridge; Gloucester City Mayor Dayl Baile; and city council members George Berglund, Bowie Johnson and Ed Cilurso.
“We are still celebrating the success of the parade,” said Patrick Hagan, president of the Irish Society. “It feels very exciting hosting this breakfast. We could not have done it without the support of the board members. We hope to do this every year the Saturday after the parade.”
Greeting the guests were Irish Society Treasurer Lori Ryan and Secretary Jennifer Evans, while other board members coordinated with the ballroom staff for the breakfast.
The purpose of the society is to “facilitate the Irish heritage in New Jersey and Gloucester City specifically, and make sure the past continues to be passed down to future generations” noted historian Patrick Ward, a founder of the society in 2019, a current board member and the grand marshal of this year’s parade.
“I’m proud of the first breakfast is here in Gloucester City,” Baile stated. “I hope to see it grow every year.”
“This breakfast is a lovely idea,” added McDonnell. “It is important for the Irish community all over Camden County. It’s nice to see all of us get together and share our heritage.”
To read Moen’s bill regarding the Good Friday Agreement, go to https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/AR66.
