Mayor Giuliani Begins St. Patrick's Day By Marrying Couple On The Porch At Gracie Mansion
Mayor Also Hosts Traditional Breakfast for Parade Grand Marshal John Lahey
"There is no more optimistic way to begin St. Patrick's Day than with a wedding ceremony on the porch at Gracie Mansion," Mayor Giuliani said. "When Davina Ismail-Massey called me from London on a WCBS radio call in show on January 3rd of this year, she said she was having trouble getting someone to marry her in New York City on St. Patrick's Day. I told her I would perform the ceremony at Gracie Mansion. The rest is history.
"As we take part in this wonderful day in New York City, we will also be observing the 150th anniversary of the Great Irish Famine in which l.5 million Irish men women and children died of disease and starvation," the Mayor said. "At noon, the entire parade will come to a stop and we will observe a moment of silence in memory of those who died during this tragic chapter in Irish history."
The Gracie Mansion wedding of the London couple began to develop on January 3, 1997 when the bride, Davina Ismail-Massey, contacted WCBS Radio to get information on where she might get married in New York City. The Mayor was participating in the monthly "Ask The Mayor" call-in show hosted by Rich Lamb and Ms. Massey was put directly on the line with Mayor Giuliani.
Ms. Massey told the Mayor that she wanted to get married in New York City on St. Patrick's Day in honor of her Irish father but was having trouble getting someone to perform the marriage. The Mayor solved her problem by offering to marry the couple at Gracie Mansion on St. Patrick's Day morning. Ms. Massey, a 28-year-old accountant, is marrying her high school sweetheart, Tyrone Giblin, a 28-year-old marketing director. The couple traveled from London with 14 friends and relatives who were present at the wedding.
During St. Patrick's Day, the Mayor is also scheduled to marry two other couples. At City Hall he will officiate at the wedding of Gregory Kiely, a NYPD Detective with the Bronx District Attorney's squad, and Janice Sidor. The Mayor will also marry Fire Department Battalion Chief Thomas Murphy and Nadia Marie Coury at the Seventh Regiment Armory.
Following the breakfast reception, Mayor Giuliani was scheduled to attend Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, drop in on several other receptions and then step off to march up Fifth Avenue with the New York City Police Department Holy Name Society. The Mayor was to be accompanied by world famous Irish recording artists James Galway and Phil Coulter.
Contact Us | FAQs | Privacy Statement | Site Map