Betty McLoughlin was born to Pat and Kate Irwin in Lenarevagh, Glenamoy, County Mayo. She is one of five children, Mary Cunningham and Nora Noone both deceased, and brothers George and Phillip who remain in Ireland in Kildare and Mayo respectively. Betty came to the United States by way of Philadelphia in 1962. However the nightlife of Philadelphia was no match for the great fun of New York City and the Jaeger House ballroom.

After a year of weekend visits, she relocated to New York City. Betty found work at Patricia Murphy’s and found the man of her dreams, Jim a fine man from Drumkeerin, County Leitrim. She and Jim were married in 1966 in St. Jerome’s in Brooklyn. In 1972 they moved to Bayside where their four children were born- Mary(Deceased), Francis, Seamus with his wife Christine and their two children Chase and Carlee and Breda Mulvey with her husband Seamus and their four children, Kayleigh, Aidan, Emily and Jack.

In addition to all her busy family life, Betty found time to secure a position with the New York City Department of Education from 1995 until her retirement in 2008. Betty had thirty-eight wonderful years with her darling Jim before his passing in 2005.

Although Betty joined the Irish American Society of Nassau in 1983, it was not until she lost her beloved Jim that she took a more active role. The Irish American Society and its wonderful members provided a home away from home for Betty. After serving on the Board, Betty went on to serve as President from 2010-2011 and again she served in 2016-2017, and was the Grand Marshall of the Mineola parade in 2012 and she is still very much involved to this day. Betty is very involved in Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and was President of the Rosary Society in 2014-2015 and is still on the board. Our Lady of The Blessed Sacrament is a wonderful Parish to be apart of. Betty was the Mayo women of the year in 2010 and now she holds the title of President of the Society. Betty was honored by the Queens county AOH in 2014, she also received the Shining Star Award for the Catholic Migration services in 2014. Betty is honored to be chosen to be an aide in the Bayside Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.

UP MAYO!!