Dorothy Hayden Cudahy
Dorothy Hayden Cudahy was born on May 29, 1922, and grew up on the west side of Manhattan. She was the daughter of James Hayden, a native of Ballyraggett, Co Kilkenny, and Delia Brennan, from Curry, Co Sligo. She graduated from the New York Institute of Technology.
Her broadcasting career began in 1943 after her father died. He had presented a Sunday evening radio programme on WEVD, a station founded to honour the memory of the labour leader Eugene Debs. He also wrote for Irish American newspapers. As a child, she had been a fixture in the studio with her father. She even emceed an act, the ”Dorothy Hayden Irish Dancers,” which later appeared on the ”Ed Sullivan Show” six times.
Despite some misgivings among the station’s managers – women broadcasters were few and far between – she took over the slot, and made a great success of it. Broadcast from the Empire State Building, the programme was relayed by various local stations including Fordham’s WFUV. Known as the “First Lady of Irish Radio”, she presented the popular Irish Memories programme for 47 years.
She regularly visited Ireland, returning with the latest recordings and introducing new performers to her listeners. Her playlist ranged from John McCormack and Delia Murphy, to Carmel Quinn and Connie Foley to the McNultys the Clancys and Tommy Makem, the Bothy Band and Planxty.
She also formed the Dorothy Hayden Entertainers comprising singers, dancers and musicians, which performed in a number of east coast cities. In 1951, the group appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
She married John Cudahy, a son of Co Clare immigrants, and was active in the Irish American community. With Paul O’Dwyer she was a founding member and trustee of the Irish Institute of New York.
In 1960, when Irish Memories was no longer paying the bills, she became one of New York City’s first 100 meter maids. By the time she retired in 1982, she was chief of administration, the first woman to reach that position.
In 1985 she challenged the rule that barred women from holding the position of grand marshal of the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York. She said at the time: “I do not wish to be pushy, but there is no reason to wait.”
Notwithstanding the support of the New York Times, the old order prevailed. But only for a year; the rules were changed in 1986 and she stood for election.
Asked what the attributes of a grand master were, she said: “I think the grand master should be very knowledgeable in Irish music, sports, dance and literature. She should be very knowledgeable about the political situation in Ireland and be able to speak up on it. That’s me.”
She failed to be elected in 1986, however, but was successful in 1989 at the age of 66.
Albert Reynolds, then Irish Minister for Finance, accepted an invitation to take part in the parade despite opposition allegations that she was too close to the IRA support group Noraid. Her defeated opponent Mary Holt Moore went on to lead the 1990 parade and Maureen O’Hara subsequently did the honours.
She was the first woman, and first American-born, president of the city’s Kilkenny Association and was Chief Brehon of the Great Irish Fair in Brooklyn. She also was a member of the Ladies’ Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Dorothy Hayden Cudehy died on August 5, 2010, aged 88. Her husband died in 1994 and their son Sean in 1997. She was survived by her grand-daughter Mary Kate, nieces and nephews.
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