Union County St.
Patrick's Day Parade
2008 Grand Marshal
Jim Lowney Sr
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Jim Lowney Sr. is well known
throughout New Jersey and beyond for his 30 years of newspaper columns
in the Irish Echo and the Irish Edition. In addition to his well-read
columns about the Irish in New Jersey, he has also been active for
decades in the state’s Irish-American community promoting Irish
culture through education, historical preservation, festivals,
fundraisers and countless parades around the Garden State.
He has served as a member of the Irish Resources Advisory Board for the
Msgr. William Noe Field Archives and Special Collections Center at
Seton Hall University and as a member of the Advisory Board of the
Irish Heritage Series at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. Jim
also served for several years as publicity chairman of the New Jersey
Irish Festival at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.
Jim has strong ties with Ireland and deep roots in Union County. Born
in Elizabeth, he was raised in Hillside by Patrick Lowney from
Castletownbere, County Cork and Elizabeth Lamont Lowney from Coleraine,
County Derry. Growing up in such an Irish home, Jim developed a bond
with Ireland and the Irish. He would go on to marry Mary Kearney from
Charlestown, County Mayo. They have been married nearly 40 years and
have four children: Jim, Maureen, Sean and Patrick.
While busy with all things Irish and more than 20 visits to Ireland,
Jim also had a distinguished career as a professional journalist
working as a staff photographer for the old Newark Evening News and as
reporter for the Asbury Park Press. After moving on to corporate public
relations, he finished up his professional career in 2006 as a public
information officer for the Ocean County Vocational Technical School.
Jim, a Seton Hall graduate, also served his country in the New Jersey
Air National Guard.
Jim has been recognized for his work in the Irish-American community
before. He was profiled in Irish American Who’s Who. The
Independent Irish Society of Essex County awarded him the Distinguished
Irish American Citizenship Award. The Peter J. Smith Cultural
Association of Union recognized Jim for his “Dedication and
Continued Support
of Irish Culture and Tradition.” And the Ancient Order of
Hibernians, Rev. William J. Clifford Division 1 of Toms River,
presented Jim with the 25th Anniversary Service Award.
