Jack O達rien
Recipient of the Michael Flannery Spirit of Freedom Award
Jack O達rien is a native Washingtonian born to Anne McCarthy O達rien from Skibbereen, County Cork and Thomas O達rien from Tralee, County Kerry Ireland. Jack is married to Regina O達rien, having two sons, Timothy and Stephen, three grand children, Casey O達rien, Alexander O達rien and Zachary O達rien.
He was educated at St Martin痴 parish school, McKinley Technical High School and apprenticed in printing at Judd & Detweiler producers of the National Geographic magazine. As a journeyman printer, he worked at all of the Washington newspapers, The Washington Star, the Washington Post and the Washington Daily News. After his time at the DC newspapers he spent 37 years at the US Government Printing Office. As a member of Columbia Typographical Union 101, the oldest local union established in 1815, he served as Chapel Chairman, Scale Committeeman, Convention Delegate and Chairman of the Red Cross Blood Program at the GPO.
Along with his parents he and his siblings Tommy, Michael & Kathleen were members of the Irish American Club and enjoyed many Irish socials. He was a founding member of the original Washington DC St Patrick痴 Day parade 44 years ago and served as a unit chairman each year since behind the United Ireland Banner. Jack served as the Grand Marshall of the 2015 St Patrick痴 Day Parade. Jack also belonged to many Irish organizations such as the Irish Cultural Society, Irish Northern Aid, Irish National Caucus, Glucksman Ireland House NYU and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Over the years Jack and John McInerney along with many other supporters worked on Irish Cultural projects such as, the Irish Brigade Monument at Antietam National Battlefield at Sharpsburg, Maryland. Repaired and set up of endowment funds for eight Irish monuments at Gettysburg National Battlefield in Pennsylvania. Most recently the erection of the monument and the establishment of an endowment fund for the Commodore John Barry Memorial at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland was completed in 2014.
Currently on going undertakings are the restoration of the Robert Emmet statue located in the park on Embassy Row in Washington DC.
Completion of an educational Wayside Plaque is expected to be erected for the 1916 Centennial. In addition the restoration of the Thomas Devin Reilly Celtic Cross Memorial located in Mt Olivet Cementary in Washington DC is slated to be finished in 2016.
