About Us &
The Honorary Committee
The Second annual Sober St. Patrick’s Day® was held on March 16th, 2013.
The Honorary Committee
NOEL KILKENNY, Consul General of Ireland
MICHAEL GIBBONS, Grand Marshall, NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade, 2009
STANLEY GOLDSTEIN, Chairman, The American Friends of James Joyce
JAMES RICE, Chairman Emeritus, The Tara Circle
FIONNULA FLANAGAN, award-winning actress
DR. GARRET O’CONNOR, addiction psychiatrist
MALACHY McCOURT, writer and actor
WILLIAM COPE MOYERS, author and recovery specialist
JOHN V. CONNORTON, Jr., Irish American attorney
JOSH SAPAN, President & CEO, AMC Networks
ROBERT LINDSEY, President & CEO of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
SIS WENGER, Former President & CEO of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, (NACoA)
PAT TAYLOR, Executive Director, Faces & Voices of Recovery
TOM DOOLAN, Irish music specialist.
BOB DONNELLY, NY music attorney
About Sober St. Patrick's Day®
“I really like the idea of having a special event on this holiday for Americans of Irish heritage [and those] who are in recovery from alcoholism, to celebrate our shared heritage in a safe and inclusive environment."- Noel Kilkenny, Consul General of Ireland, Sober St. Patrick’s Day® 2012
Sober St. Patrick’s Day®was created by award-winning theater and television producer, William Spencer Reilly, who almost lost a member of his family to addiction just eight years ago. He first proposed the idea to leaders in the recovery and Irish American communities, a pitch that led, a year later, to the 2012 inaugural party. Now an annual event, Sober St. Patrick’s Day®will be held again on March 16, 2013; parade day in New York City.
Special thanks to Todd Whitmer, VP of Caron Treatment Centers (New York); Robert Lindsey, President of NCADD (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence); Sis Wenger, former President of NACoA (National Association for Children of Alcoholics); John T. Evans, Esq. of the William C. Dowling Jr. Foundation; Consul General of Ireland, Noel Kilkenny and Hanora O’Dea Kilkenny; Deputy Consul General of Ireland, Peter Ryan; and Media Executive, Maura Kelly.
Please visit our Sponsors page for a complete listing of all participating organizations and individuals.
Executive Team
 |
William Spencer Reilly, Founder/Producere-mailNew Yorker William Spencer Reilly is a television executive and special events producer. In his most recent position as EVP at Odyssey Networks and President & CEO of Lightworks Pictures, Bill Reilly won over 30 national television awards for his work as Executive Producer on Hallmark Channel Movies of the Week, several series, docudramas (among them, the Emmy nominated film, "PATRICK", on the life of Ireland's patron saint, featuring Gabriel Byrne and Liam Neeson), and other drama specials for the BBC such as "FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE" and "C.S. Lewis". Prior to working in television, he had an extensive career in the Broadway theatre and in producing major Special Events in New York, running day‐to‐day operations of The American Theatre Wing, founders of the Antoinette Perry "TONY” Awards. As Executive Director of Fordham University's Sesquicentennial Celebration, he produced 88 events for the university's year long celebration, including WAITIN’ IN THE WINGS®: The Night The Understudies Take Center Stage"‐ one of the most highly acclaimed events in Fordham's 150 year history. In recognition of his work creating Sober St. Patrick’s Day® Mr. Reilly was presented with the Caron Community Special Recognition Award in June 2012. |
 |
Ruth Riddick, EVP/Development Directore-mailSenior executive with a portfolio of management, marketing and media expertise; a recovery advocate and educator; writer and poet. Recent signature projects include Celebrating 250 Years of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Director of Marketing Operations), Faces of the Fallen (Executive Director) and Defense Employee Work Safety Demonstration Program (Communications Director). Included in The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing. |
 |
Eileen Murphy, Press & Media Directore-mailExperienced news and entertainment journalist, Eileen Murphy has spent her career shaping the way information is presented in newspapers, magazines and digital media. She has edited and designed special commemorative issues, led the production team that created the Irish Echo’s award-winning redesign 2006, and has developed corporate websites and social media campaigns. She specializes in created branding strategies and dynamic advertising campaigns for both local and international clients. |
 |
Peter Link, Event Directore-mailComposer/Lyricist/Record Producer Peter Link won the NY Drama Desk Award, a Gold Record: Why Can't I Touch You? which sold over two million records. He is a two‐time Tony Award Nominee on Broadway for his musical score of Joseph Papp's Much Ado About Nothing, and for his score for Neil Simon's The Good Doctor. He is CEO and creative director of Watchfire Music. |
 |
Tom O'Leary, Board Member
|
 |
Sis Wenger, Board Member
|
Sober St. Patrick’s Day® is a registered trademark. Usage of this name without permission is prohibited by law. Click here or go to the "Join Us" page on this website for instructions re possibly hosting your own event utilizing this name.
DONATE