A graduate of Clarkstown High School South, Neil attended Manhattan College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree, with majors in physics and mathematics, and where he has fond memories of being an active member of the Gaelic Society. Neil went on to earn a master’s degree in computer science from New York University School of Engineering.
Neil is an active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 3, Pearl River. Neil is currently the recording secretary for the Rockland County Board and Division 3, Pearl River. Neil also serves Division 3 as their historian, publishing a monthly history article on Irish or Irish American history. He is a member of the Rockland County AOH St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and the Division 3 Scholarship Committee and the 1916 Commemoration Committee.
On the National Board, Neil currently serves as the National Political Education Chairman, Anti-Defamation Chair and Irish American Heritage Month Chair.
Neil has been an ardent campaigner against the proliferation of bigoted and denigrating stereotypes targeting the Irish and Irish Americans. He has written multiple articles that have been featured in the Daily News, New York Post, Washington Post and other media outlets speaking out against defamation. He has been successful in having major retailers pull merchandise that perpetuates negative Irish messages from their stores.
Neil is also the chair of the Irish American Heritage Month Committee of the AOH and is dedicated to seeing the many positive contributions and sacrifices that Irish Americans which are still undervalued fully recognized, especially in our Schools and Cultural Institutions. The Irish American Heritage Month Videos and great Irish American profiles have been viewed by tens of thousands around the world promoting both the contributions of the Irish , but also the name of the Order.
As National Political Education Chair, Neil has been active on educating U.S. elected official on the perils of Brexit to the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), the lack of British compliance with the GFA and in supporting the other chairs of the Order such as FFAI and Immigration.
Neil is also on the National Board Marketing/Technology committee and has offered his extensive experience in I. T. to the Order.
Neil is honored to have been recognize as his Division’s Hibernian of the Year in 2009, Rockland County Hibernian of the Year in 2016, the recipient of the 2019 McBride Chapter of Irish Northern Aid Man of the Year, and the recipient of the first Commodore Barry Medal awarded in National Convention in 2018
Political Education Report – May 2025
Thanks to coordinated outreach by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, 37 members of Congress signed onto the recent bipartisan letter urging President Trump to appoint a U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland. That’s a significant achievement, and one we should all take pride in. It reflects growing recognition in Washington of the critical role the U.S. must continue to play in securing peace, economic development, and justice in the North.
Credit where it’s due: this didn’t happen on its own. It happened because Hibernians picked up the phone, sent emails, and made this matter to their representatives. Every one of those 37 signatures has an AOH member behind it who got involved and followed through — and we thank you.
But as proud as we are of that number, we need to be honest with ourselves: it should have been higher.
This was not a controversial issue. The Special Envoy role has existed under every U.S. President since 1995. It supports peace. It supports business. It costs the taxpayer next to nothing. And yet, we didn’t get signatures from several congressional representatives who represent districts where Hibernians are well established.
One of the signers? A representative from Guam. That’s right — Guam. Meanwhile, in areas with strong AOH presence, we came up short.
As we reviewed those districts, one thing became clear: in every case where support was absent, so was meaningful outreach from our local divisions. That’s not about blame, it’s about reality. We can’t expect results if we’re not making the ask. Political engagement isn’t passive, it’s personal, and it’s local.
This should be a wake-up call. Having a presence isn’t enough. Our voice must be heard directly by the people we elect. Offices need to know that when the AOH is engaged it’s a call to action. That’s how we build influence, that’s how we deliver results.
We got 37 this time. That’s our floor, not our ceiling. Let’s get to work.