Tom Egan Named As Hibernian Of The Year

By Steve Bigham

Ever since he was a kid, St Patrick’s Day has been a special holiday for Newtown resident Tom Egan, full of corned beef and cabbage, shamrocks, and four-leaf clovers. But March 17, 2000 will be an especially proud day for this local Irishman.

Earlier this month, Tom was named Hibernian of the Year by the Danbury chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was honored at the 41st annual ball March 4 at the Amber Room in Danbury.

But while the Irish have always been known for being lucky, Tom Egan’s selection as Hibernian of the Year had nothing to do with luck. It had more to do with his lifetime commitment to Irish pride.

“Over his many years – and I’ve known Tom for 25 years – he has been a dedicated worker and a dedicated Hibernian,” noted Danbury Division President Peter Hearty, with his deep Irish accent. “It’s not that he’s lucky. It’s just that he’s deserving – more than anyone could even think about.”

Mr Egan, who turns 68 in June, has traveled to every Hibernian division in the Tri-State area promoting Hiberniasm. Once an active member in the Stamford club, he later joined the Danbury club and soon served as state president and division president. Mr Hearty served as his vice president.

“There’s no better dedicated Hibernian you could work with. And that goes for his wife, Kaye. They’re both two peas in a pod in how they are dedicated to the same way of thinking,” Mr Hearty said.

For his efforts, Mr Egan will serve as Grand Marshal of the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Danbury this Sunday at 1:30 pm. He will join the women’s Hibernian of the Year, Mary Foley, in the lead car.

“St Patrick’s Day. It’s a holy day for me,” said Mr Egan. “We go to mass and have the flag raising in Danbury. It’s a great day. This is the icing on the cake.”

Mr Egan is geared up to run for one of three national director positions at the national convention in Baltimore in July.

Mr Egan was awakened from a sound sleep last month with a telephone call from the selection committee. “You have been chosen Hibernian of the Year,” they told him.

“All 14 guys got on the phone. It was great. They wanted me to meet them down there for a drink,” Mr Egan recalled.

Mr Egan was born in Stamford, but both his parents were born in Ireland. His father, from the south, fought in the 1916 uprising during which Ireland won its independence from England. His mother was from Northern Ireland.

Mr and Mrs Egan, now married 42 years, have lived in Sandy Hook for 30 years. They have four children: Tom, Peggy, Julie and Veronica. They are planning a trip to Ireland this spring.

Mr Egan is also well known in the local softball circle where he has run the Newtown men’s softball league for the past five years. A longtime umpire and fan of the sport, Mr Egan took over when Tony DeCarlo stepped down.

Today, the Ancient Order of Hibernians continues to work tirelessly toward the same end as it did when first formed back in 1836: the freedom of Ireland. To become a member, one must be both Irish and Catholic. The Hibernians were first established to protect the nuns and the priests so they could say the mass out in the fields. Also, the Hibernians worked hard in America to help Irishmen find jobs during a time when there was much anti-Irish sentiment in the cities.