A Jim Thorpe couple who has played a prominent role in the annual Carbon County St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been selected to serve as co-grand marshals of the 2018 parade, an event that attracts more than 10,000 visitors to Jim Thorpe in celebration of Irish heritage.

Noel and Bernadette Behan will lead the line of march on March 11, stepping off at 1 p.m. on Upper Broadway and proceeding downtown.

The 21st annual parade is being organized by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee of Carbon County/Jim Thorpe, a spinoff of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Alec Campbell Division 1, Carbon County, and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Mollie Maguire Division 1, Carbon County.

For the Behans, they will be the first-ever immigrants to lead the parade, although the honor comes in a year in which they are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary (September) and 25 years of residency in Jim Thorpe (December).

Hugh Dugan, parade committee co-chairman, said, “Myself and all of the members of our parade committee are very excited to have Noel and Bernadette as our 21st grand marshals. They are the first Irish immigrants from the County of Dublin to be given this honor and no one is more deserving of it. I have had the pleasure of knowing them for more than 25 years, since they decided to relocate their family to Jim Thorpe.”

Actually, Noel Behan, Dugan said, “has been the driving force in starting the parade.” He added, “Noel and Bernadette have worked tirelessly as parade committee members since the first parade. It has been my pleasure to work side by side with them. Noel and myself have served as co-chairmen of the parade committee for many years. The Behans possess a work ethic that is second to none. I can honestly say that if the Behans had not relocated to Jim Thorpe, I am not sure there would be a St. Patrick’s Day Parade.”

In accepting the honor, Bernadette said, “Noel and I are very honored to be the grand marshals, especially since we are Irish immigrants. We are proud to be American citizens and love living and working in Jim Thorpe. We are looking forward to the grand marshal dinner in the company of our family and friends and are so excited to lead the 2018 parade down Broadway.”

In addition to their role in the parade, the Behans have been active within the community. Dugan pointed out, “They are involved in so many other community affairs, such as the Irish pub Tour de Shore, an annual bike ride of over 65 miles to benefit children of fallen police officers and first responders. If there is a fundraiser in Carbon County, be assured they are there giving very generously of both their time and treasure to the cause, whatever it might be. We all look forward to having Noel and Bernadette lead us down Broadway.”

About the grand marshals

Bernadette Teresa Behan was born in Dublin, Ireland, on May 5, 1950, the youngest child of seven of Michael and Kathleen (Nolan) Clark. She was raised in a small home with her four older brothers and two sisters and attended a convent school run by the Sisters of Charity. She attended Mass and received her sacraments in SS. Peter and Paul Church, Baldoyle County, Dublin.

After losing her father in 1962 at the age of 12, Bernadette joined the workforce at the age of 14 and was employed by the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. In 1966, at the age of 16, she met who was to be the love of her life. Noel was 17. After working and saving for almost four years, they were married on Sept. 4, 1970.

Noel James Behan was born in Dublin on June 25, 1949, the fourth child and the first son of Richard and Mary (Elmore) Behan. Over the next few years, he became a big brother to three, younger brothers and a sister.

When he was 13, his oldest sister, Marie, immigrated to the United States. Noel attended Raheny Grade School and Kostka College, after which his first trade was a butcher, although he always had a second and third part-time job. He played soccer with his local club.

After meeting Bernadette and getting married, their first son, Mark Andrew, was born on Dec. 6, 1971. On March 18, 1973, they welcomed a second son, Darren Francis. At the time, Noel owned two small stores and worked very long hours.

Immigrants

In 1977, they visited Noel’s sister in Long Island, and returning again in January 1979, taking the two boys. Returning to Dublin, they sold their business and home on Oct. 16 of the same year, they immigrated, landing at Kennedy Airport with eight pieces of luggage and two very excited little boys.

They stayed with Noel’s sister and family. Noel found work right away, selling firewood, delivering lost luggage, pumping gas and selling real estate. He started bartending in Manhattan in 1981. On May 6 of that year, their third son, Paul Richard, was born.

They were members of the Irish American Society of Nassau Suffolk and Queens. Noel tended bar there on weekends and Bernadette served on the parade committee and also fundraised for its “Project Children Program.”

With Paul now in school, they both worked in several bars and restaurants and later Noel became a part-owner of an Irish bar and restaurant for a period of time.

After purchasing a summer home in Blakeslee in 1990, they moved there with Paul and Bernadette’s brother, Willie. Darren at the time was in culinary school and Mark attended St. John’s University.

The Behans discovered Jim Thorpe and purchased the Molly Maguires and Emerald Restaurant that opened on Dec. 11, 1993. Soon after, Mark and Darren moved to Jim Thorpe and Mollies became a family business. Three years later, they purchased the Hotel Switzerland and opened JTs All AMERICAN Steak and Ale. They also operated Pepperjack’s Tex Mex on Broadway.

Parade’s beginning

Some years later at a Bach and Handel fundraiser, Noel and Ron Sheehan conceived the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the AOH was formed and a committee and members were in place. The next year, 1997, the first parade marched down Broadway. The following year, the LAOH was formed.

Noel and Bernadette held several offices with the AOH and LAOH. Noel served two terms as president and is now the treasurer. Bernadette served a term as vice president and is now the Irish historian. They are also on the parade committee, Noel serving as the co-chairman with Hugh Dugan and Bernadette being the fundraising chairwoman. They both arrange the Grand Marshal Dinner.

After vacating the business on Broadway and taking the Molly Maguire name to Hazard Square, they soon built the deck at Mollies.

Noel and Bernadette’s family has now grown to include three daughters-in-law, Jen (married to Darren), Debbie (married to Mark) and Joy (married to Paul, who lives in Florida, where he is an air traffic controller).

They have four grandchildren, Declan, Molly, Charlotte and Henry; two stepgrandchildren, Ashley, wife of Benny, and Chris, and his girlfriend, Shanea; and great-grandchildren Tanner, Eva and Andrew and Shanea’s daughter Casey.

Noel and Bernadette enjoy broad trips to Florida to visit Paul and Joy and family, and Noel likes to golf and read, while Bernadette enjoyed gardening, knitting and taking care of the hotel.

They both enjoy hosting the parade committee meetings at their home and taking care of their three dogs, Raggs, Bonnie and Trixie, and also enjoy organizing tours to Ireland.

Parade information

The 2018 parade program will be dedicated to the Shriners in honor of their dedicated services to the children of the area.

The Grand Marshal’s Dinner is scheduled for March 9, at Dean Anthony’s in Jim Thorpe, beginning with a social hour at 6 p.m. and the dinner and program at 7 and entertainment and dancing until 11.

For tickets, contact Noel Behan, 570-325-4563; Ron Sheehan, 570-778-0161; or Hugh Dugan, 570-325-3359.

The St. Patrick’s Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. March 10 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Jim Thorpe.

The deadline for parade participant registration is March 1. Groups can register by contacting parade organizers listed above.

To advertise or place a congratulatory message in the dinner program, contact Bernadette Behan at 570-325-8056.

The members remind spectators and those attending private parties along the parade route to respect the parade by not interfering with the parade or any of its participants.