Celeste O’Keefe is co-owner of DANCEL Multimedia, along with her husband, Danny O’Keefe. This year, she has been chosen colleen for the Hibernia Marching Society. In this role, she says, her responsibilities include “representing the organization and the Irish at our events and bringing Irish cheer to all!” She will serve a full year as colleen, which ends in November.
My father-in-law, John O’Keefe placed an ad in the newspaper in 1978 inviting all to join the Hibernia Marching Society. I marched in the first parade as I was dating his son, Danny O’Keefe, to whom I am now married. My first memory of the organization was walking in that first parade.
Dockie, as we called him, was a proud Irishman, and he loved HMS and its growth. I am honored to serve as the 2022 colleen for the Hibernia Marching Society! As excited as I have been to be a member of the organization, I am so proud to represent all the Irish of our area and those who just enjoy the Irish culture.
Although we don’t require our grand marshal or colleen to be Irish, I discovered to my surprise that I am 38.6 percent Irish. My family is from County Dublin and County Cork, and I come from a long line of Irish immigrants. I plan to visit Ireland in the next few years and kiss the Blarney Stone. My late father-in-law visited Ireland with many friends from the Gulf Coast several times.
In 2011, my husband was the grand marshal, and he is 98.6 percent Irish. We have three sons, Shane, Connor and Brennan, and we all are looking forward to 2028 when the Hibernia Marching Society will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Under current rules, you must be an HMS member for three years or more to serve as colleen. In this role, HMS is seeking someone who has supported the group through growth, committee involvement, etc., as well as someone who is willing to stay involved. Colleens and grand marshals meet several times a year for comradery, fellowship and Irish shenanigans.
Hibernia Marching Society holds several special events throughout the year, including the announcement party, the lace curtain and blarney luncheon, the comeallye’ ball and the St. Patrick’s Day parade, which is generally held the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day and will roll through Biloxi on March 12.
We are really excited about our parade! We have a member who lives in California, Lydia Hilton, who is our parade captain and has worked on the Rose Bowl Parade committee. It is going to be bigger than ever!
We hope to have 80-plus entries in our parade, and we would love people to join HMS if they so desire. If you are curious about the Hibernia Marching Society, attend one of our functions, such as the luncheon, where all the women wear hats, many elaborate and beautifully decorated, or attend our ball, where we have Irish dancers, leprechauns and a fabulous live band. Learn more about our organization at www.hiberniamarchingsociety.com.
And definitely attend the parade! Look for the grand marshal and I in the horse-drawn carriage.