The Glenside St. Patrick’s Day Association announced that Mrs. Rosemarie (née Rankin) Timoney has been selected to be the first-ever Grand Marshall for the Glenside St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

According to the Association, Mrs. Timoney, now 83, has been living and teaching in greater Glenside for over 60 years and served as a crossing guard at Glenside Weldon Elementary and Copper Beech Elementary.

She has also participated in the Greater Glenside 4th of July Parade and performed at the Glenside Arts Festival, the Glenside Pub, and the Copper Beech Spring Fling.

From the announcement:

Mrs. Timoney was born in Clady, So.Derry. She began Irish Dancing at 5 years old at the Allen School. During her childhood in Ireland, she was an accomplished dancer, winning the So. Derry Championship at 17 years old, and an active participant on her local camogie team. She brought her love of Irish dancing, music, and athletics with her to the US when she emigrated to the Philadelphia area for her sister Betty’s wedding in the early 1960’s.

Almost immediately after arriving in the US, Rosemarie was asked to teach Irish Dancing, founding The Timoney School of Irish Dancing . She has been living and teaching in the Glenside area for over 60 years at locations such as St. Lukes, The MacSwiney Club, The North Penn VFW, and The Glenside Knights of Columbus. Rosemarie loves the Glenside community. Not only did she raise her five children in Glenside, sending them to St. Luke’s Elementary School, Bishop McDevitt HS, and Abington HS but she also worked for many years as the crossing guard at Glenside Weldon ES and Copper Beech ES. Through the The Timoney Irish Dancers, Rosemarie has also brought Irish culture and dance to Glenside by participating in The 4th of July Parade, performing at The Glenside Arts Festival, The Glenside Pub, Copper Beech Spring Fling, and The Glenside Pub. At 83 years old Rosemarie continues to remain active in the community by teaching dancing and belonging to St. Luke’s Seniors and the St. Luke’s Bowling Team.

Rosemarie loves sharing the love, laughter, music and dancing of Ireland within the Glenside Community. She wants to specifically thank the James A Flaherty Knights of Columbus for providing a home to The Timoney Dancers through hosting ceilis, classes, and their friendship. She is honored to be named the Grand Marshal of the first Glenside St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

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Photo: GSPDA