The Rev. James T. O’Reilly Division 8 Ancient Order of Hibernians has announced the recipients of their 2018 Awards.
The Rev. John Delaney has been named by Division 8 as their 2018 Irishman of the Year. Father Delaney, a native of the City of Lawrence, is the son of the late John and Dorothy Delaney. A graduate of Saint Patrick Grammar School, Central Catholic High School and Holy Cross College, he also attended the University of New Hampshire and Tufts University. He entered Saint John’s Seminary in 1990 and was ordained in 1995. He has served at St Joseph’s Parish in Needham; Saint Michael’s Parish in North Andover and presently is the Pastor of Sacred Hearts Parish in Bradford. Father Delaney serves as Chaplain to: the North Andover Police and Fire Department, the Saint Claire League of Catholic Woman and Division 8 AOH and LAOH. He is on the Board of Directors for the TIP Program. Father Delaney will receive his award at Division 8’s 147th Annual Saint Patrick’s Dinner Dance on Saturday March 3 at the Reliefs’ In in Lawrence.
Elizabeth “Betty” Cuddy has been named as the recipient of Division 8’s Richard Cardinal Cushing Award. This award honors an Irish Catholic who exhibits the characteristics of the beloved late Cardinal Cushing. A life long resident of the City of Lawrence and lifelong parishioner and daily communicant of Saint Patrick’s Parish, Betty Cuddy gave birth to seven children. After the death of her husband, James Cuddy in 1988, she helped find the Merrimack Valley Moving on Group for widows and widowers. At Saint Patrick’s Parish she has served as Prefect of Saint Patrick’s Our Lady Sodality and leads the Saint Patrick Parish Alter Guild, A Breast Cancer survivor, she has been an aggressive fundraiser for this cause and is involved in brain aneurysm fundraising which was the cause of her husband’s death and disabled her oldest daughter. The Cardinal Cushing Award will be presented to Betty Cuddy on March 3 at the Hibernian Dinner Dance.
Thomas M. Connors has been selected as the 2018 recipient of the Hon John E. Fenton Citizenship Award. Judge John E. Fenton, who served as National President of the AOH from 1935 – 1939, died in 1974. Division 8 established the Fenton Award in his honor in 1975. Tom Connors founded American Training over 35 years in Lawrence and the company is now located in Andover, MA. American Training is committed to excellence in service to people with disabilities, youth-at-risk and adults looking to improve their skills through life-long learning programs. Mr. Connors presently serves as President and CEO of American Training. Tom Connors also serves as Chairman of the Board of the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District and is a 40 year plus member of Division 8. The John E. Fenton Citizenship Award will be presented to Tom Connors at the 49th Saint Patrick’s Day Luncheon on March 16 at the Reliefs’ In in Lawrence.
Anyone interested in tickets for the Saint Patrick Dinner Dance on March 3 should please contact Charles Breen at 508 328 0323. For tickets for the Saint Patrick’s Day Luncheon please contact Jack Lahey at 603 560 8192.
