The Mr. & Miss Shamrock Scholarship Contest is held annually. All high school seniors of Irish descent in the greater Bridgeport area are encouraged to submit an application to the committee. Applicants need to complete an application and be interviewed by an independent panel of judges. Winners are chosen based upon their knowledge of their Irish heritage, traditions, history, the meaning of St. Patrick’s Day, their involvement in their community, their interests and activities.
The winners will each receive a monetary scholarship award for future educational endeavors. Runners-up will also be awarded a monetary scholarship and will participate in all the events with Mr. and Miss Shamrock throughout the year.
Mr. & Miss Shamrock will be an important part of the Greater Bridgeport St. Patrick’s Day Parade Celebration and will be requested to attend events throughout the year. The highlight of course is participating in all the St. Patrick’s Day festivities, including riding on the float during the parade in downtown Bridgeport.
High School Seniors with an Irish background may apply for a $5,000 scholarship (Runner-ups will receive $2,500). Applications are on this website and in the Guidance Offices of local Public and Catholic High Schools.
The actual judging will be held at a time and date to be determined.
All applications must be submitted to Colleen Sargent Murphy ShamrockCT@yahoo.com by Wednesday, December 15, 2022. You may reach Colleen by phone at 203-258-7041 if you have any further questions.
Thank you.
Download Application (PDF) Download Application (Word)
The Greater Bridgeport St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Committee announced the winners of the 2022 Mr. and Miss Shamrock Scholarship Program. They were selected among many applicants by a panel of judges of local educators. All winners are Fairfield residents, according to scholarship program organizer Colleen Sargent Murphy.
2022 Miss Shamrock Scholarship Recipient Erin Appelson, a senior at Fairfield Warde High School. She is the great-grandchild of families who immigrated from Armagh and Cork. Erin is a math, English, French, and music scholar, flautist, and Step Dancer with the Lenihan School of Irish Dance. She has been dancing in our parade since she was young and in April she will be competing in the World Championships in Belfast. She is an intern for State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey. Erin is the daughter of Maura and Steven Appelson of Town of Fairfield, CT, and are members of the Gaelic-American Club. ☘☘
2022 Mr. Shamrock Scholarship Recipient Timmy McCormack, a senior at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Timmy is a scholar-athlete in soccer, skiing, and tennis. He is active with the Appalachia Service Project, SASO helping at Operation Hope of Fairfield and Bridgeport Rescue Mission, and Grassroots Tennis & Education. He is the son of Patrick and Meredith McNeilage McCormack of Town of Fairfield, CT. ☘☘
2022 Miss Shamrock Runner Up Ellen Feeney, a senior at Lauralton Hall. Ellen has marched in our parade from a young age, first as an Irish Step Dancer and later with St. Patrick’s Gaelic Football and Hurling Club. Since she was six years old, she has been a traditional Irish musician on the button accordion. And she sings too! At Lauralton, she is captain of the golf team, president of the Irish Club and a member of the Spanish Club. She is the daughter of Jim and Caroline Feeney of Town of Fairfield, CT. ☘☘
2022 Mr. Shamrock Runner Up Scholarship Recipient Brian Forde, a senior at Joel Barlow High School. Brian is a first-generation Irish-American, as his mom is from County Cork and his dad is from County Monaghan. Brian helped build the iconic float with thatched roof cottage that is used every year in the parade. He is involved with St. Patrick’s Gaelic Football and Hurling Club, Gaelic-American Club, Easton Police Cadets, and Clearity Foundation. Brian is the son of Gerry and Noreen Forde of Easton, Connecticut. ☘☘
The Mr. & Miss Shamrock Scholarship Contest is held annually at the Gaelic American Club, Fairfield. All high school seniors of Irish descent in the greater Bridgeport area are encouraged to submit an application to the Parade Committee. All candidates are interviewed by an independent panel of judges and winners are chosen based upon their knowledge of their Irish heritage, traditions, history, the meaning of St. Patrick’s Day, their involvement in their community, their interests, and activities.
The winners receive a monetary scholarship award of $4,000 for future educational endeavors. Runners-up are awarded $2,000 and all will participate in all the events with Mr. and Miss Shamrock throughout the year. The winners will be introduced by the 2020/2021 Grand Marshal Mary Ann Doonan at the Gaelic American Club on March 17, 2021, at the Flag Raising Ceremony.
Mr. & Miss Shamrock will participate in the Greater Bridgeport St. Patrick’s Day Parade virtual festivities on YouTube and Facebook Live on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. For more information visit, http://stpatricksdaybridgeport.com/
Miss Shamrock Scholarship Winners
2021 Emily Larkin (Runner up: Catherine White)
2020 Mary Feeney (Runner up: Bridget Keary)
2019 Mary Ingram (Runner up: Kate Morton)
2018 Maddie Mitchell (Runner up: Maggie Buckley)
2017 Erin Welch (Runner up: Marisa Doyle)
2016 Samantha Mitchell (Runner up: Caroline Ihlefeld)
2015 Emily Devine (Runner up: Katherine O’Rourke)
2014 Elizabeth Croker (Runner up: Colleen Chrzanowski)
2013 Erin Puglia (Runner up: Elizabeth Croker)
2012 Kiernan Black (Runner up: Ryann Leonard)
2011 Mackenzie Dancho (Runner up: Kiernan Black)
2010 Nora O’Sullivan
2009 Rose Murphy
2008 Kelly Gavin
2007 Aine O’Sullivan
2006 Meghan Lucey
2005 Ryan Virginia Donahue
2004 Mary Rose O’Sullivan
2003 Erin Finnegan
2002 Coleen McCann
2001 Eleanor McCormick
2000 Maura Finnegan
1999 Morgan Keane
1998 Karen Curtin
1997 Teresa O’Sullivan
1996 Laura Kabel
1995 Erin Miller
1994 Erin Lehaney
1993 Caragh McGovern
1992 Jennifer Daly Carolan
1991 Maureen Ganley
1990 Crissie Corcoran Henriques
1989 Kelly Conlisk Murphy
1988 Eileen Doonan Dancho
Mr. Shamrock Scholarship Winners
2021 Andrew Jones (Runner Up: Ryan Carroll)
2020 Seamus Carolan (Runner Up: Jack Clyne)
2019 Brenden Devine (Runner Up: Michael Fickes)
2018 Drew Newcomb (Runner up: Tim Forde)
2017 Kevin Gallagher (Runner up: Brendan Black)
2016 Adrian Coyle (Runner up: Tim Welch)
2015 Ian McLevy (Runner up: Owen Mockler)
2014 Daniel Donahue (Runner up: Daniel McInerney)
2013 Liam Coyle (Runner up: Thomas Turner)
2012 Brian Gavvin (Runner up: Liam Coyle)
2011 Patrick McGuinness II (Runner up: Liam Coyle)
2010 Andrew Burns
2009 Brendan Ferguson
2008 Ciaran O’Donnell
2007 Christopher John Austin
2006 Frank Rupp
2005 Brian Joseph Kabel
2004 Liam O’Connor Colum
2003 Kyle Langan
2002 Alex Kabel
2001 Kevin O’Malley
2000 Michael McCann
1999 Terence McGovern
1998 James Leary
1997 Will Kabel
1996 Thomas Dunn
1995 Brian Burns
1994 Brendan Cavanagh
1993 Pat Boland
