SHRUB OAK, N.Y. – New York State Sen. Pete Harckham honored two residents from the 40th Senate District during Irish Heritage Month 2025 for their contributions to the community and efforts in preserving Irish cultural traditions.
Brendan Tully, a Yorktown Heights attorney, and Tara Keegan, Putnam County director of tourism, were recognized for their dedication to local, state and national organizations.
Irish Heritage Month, observed annually in March, is aimed at highlighting the history and culture of Irish Americans and their contributions to the United States. The celebration coincides with St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.
Tully was recognized alongside Tara Keegan, Putnam County director of tourism, at a ceremony on Saturday, March 23 at the John C. Hart Memorial Library in Yorktown. Harckham presented Senate proclamations to both honorees, joined by Yorktown Town Supervisor Ed Lachterman and members of the honorees’ families.
“When we celebrate Irish Heritage Month we recognize the profound contributions of Irish Americans to our culture, economy, and arts,” Harckham said in a March 26 press release. “It’s an opportunity to honor the diverse perspectives and experiences that have shaped New York’s identity and celebrate their lasting impact on our society.”
Harckham called Tully a “steadfast advocate for victims of accidents, medical malpractice, and workplace injuries,” adding that both honorees “exemplify the strength and dedication of our state’s Irish American community.”
According to the release, Tully, a trial attorney and partner at Simon Greenstone Panatier, P.C., leads the firm’s New York office and international practice. A Fordham University and Albany Law School graduate, he has spent more than 15 years representing veterans, workers, and families harmed by asbestos products. In 2015, he secured New York’s first verdict holding a company liable for asbestos-contaminated cosmetic talcum powder. His work in international product liability has helped mesothelioma victims worldwide recover tens of millions of dollars.
Additionally, Tully has lectured across the United States and in the United Kingdom on asbestos litigation, trial advocacy, and public health, the release said. He is someone deeply committed to workers’ rights and supports unions by walking picket lines, speaking at rallies, and advocating for fair contracts and safe conditions.’’
Keegan, a first-generation Irish American, is a Brewster High School graduate with a political science degree from the University at Albany. She has built a strong public service career, working in the County District Attorney’s Office before advancing from intern to chief of staff for Assemblymember Steve Katz
The release called Keegan “a dedicated community organizer” and said that she actively promotes Irish heritage across Hudson Valley. She’s served as publicity secretary for the Northern Westchester-Putnam St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, leading outreach, fundraisers, and the Grand Marshal Installation Dinner since 2018. And she is also a longtime member of the Emerald Association of Putnam County, where she has held board and recording secretary roles. She plays a key part in organizing the association’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance and the Putnam County Feis, a major regional Irish dance competition.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here