2026 Grand Marshal

Jim is one of seven children born to James and Eileen (Morrisey) Browne, who emigrated to the United States from Ireland in the early 1900’s. Growing up in a home with strong Irish roots, Jim became interested in “things Irish” from an early age.

Raised and educated in Worcester, Jim graduated from Commerce High School and Quinsigamond Community College and then served six years in the Army National Guard. Jim retired from the Registry of Motor Vehicles, where he was a supervisor in the road test department.

Jim has been active in the Irish community since the 1980’s, first as a member of the AOH where he served on many committees and was Vice President for several years for “The Chieftain” John Rooney.  It was John whom he credits with teaching him the importance of preserving our Irish culture.

Jim served as President of the Hibernian Building Association during the transition from Millbury Street to Temple Street.  His efforts, along with many other hard-working members, resulted in the beautiful Cultural Centre and Fiddlers’ Green Pub that we have today.

A special interest of Jim’s has been the human rights struggle in the North of Ireland. He was, for many years, the chairman of the Worcester Chapter of the American Irish Political Education Committee, a grassroots activist group dedicated to the reunification of a 32 county Ireland. He has chaired the Freedom for All Ireland Committee and continues to this day to collect money each December to benefit ex-prisoners and their families in Ireland. This is better known to the membership as “The Ten Club”.

As part of the mission of the AOH Freedom for All Ireland, Jim has annually conducted a very moving ceremony commemorating the Easter Uprising of 1916.  He has held this commemoration for more than 40 years.

In recent years Jim has been responsible for the implementation of two of the biggest sources of revenue for the Pub and Center: The Queen of Hearts and the collection of parking fees during Woo Sox games.

As a member of the St. Patrick’s Parade Committee Jim has served as Treasurer, works on the Annual Golf Tournament, and helps with lineup on Parade Day.

Along with several parade committee members, Jim also volunteers each Tuesday at the St. Peter’s Parish Food Bank.

Jim, who holds dual citizenship with Ireland and the U.S., resides in Worcester, and is the proud father of four children, Patrick, Amy, Caitlin and Seamus, as well as six grandchildren, Zachary, Connor, Liam, Wyatt, Madison, and Fiona.