My name is Mary Kate Moran, and my family have been proud members of the Irish Philadelphia community for generations. My family’s roots trace to Cork, Limerick, Mayo, and Monaghan. My father, whose family immigrated here in the mid-1800s, grew up with his nine siblings on Carpenter Lane around the corner from the Irish Center, and my mother’s family arrived through Ellis Island in the 1920s. My only surviving grandparent, Kathleen Healey Ryan, is the daughter of a Limerick farmer and a Waterford factory worker.
I have danced with the Cummins School for my entire life and am now delighted to be part of their teaching staff. I work in international HR and recently returned to the area after living for four years in DC, where I moved for my work after graduating from Penn State.
I had a wonderful evening at the Mayo Ball getting to know my fellow contestants, dancing and singing with my Cummins family, and meeting many kind new faces who have welcomed me back to the community. I am elated to have the opportunity to spend this year celebrating our heritage and extending the spirit of “cead mile failte” with the Mayo Association!
Meet Miss Mayo 2023 - Mary Kate Moran
