The 2019 Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Queen and Honor Attendant were crowned at a competition at the Irish American Community Center on Saturday, February 10. The event was sponsored by the New Haven Gaelic Football and Hurling Club.
Taylor Besciglia was chosen from a field of contestants to represent the Irish community in a variety of year-long events as Parade Queen. Her Honor Attendant, Claire Bohan, will accompany her to most of these functions throughout the year and appear with her in the New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 10.
The ladies will be called upon by each of the four Irish Societies (the NH Gaelic Football & Hurling Club; the Knights of St. Patrick; the Ancient Order of Hibernians; and the West Haven Irish-American Club) to take part in their events that occur throughout the entire year. This is when the queen and her honor attendant truly make an impact on the community. They are inspirational role models for their peers and the younger generations.
Taylor Besciglia- 2019 Parade Queen — Taylor is the daughter of Heidi Pierpont and Frank Besciglia, Jr. She lives in West Haven and her ancestors hail from Piltown, County Kilkenny.
She is currently a student at Southern Connecticut State University studying elementary education with concentrations in STEM and English. She will graduate this spring. Besciglia is employed by the Kumon Learning Center as a tutor, she is also a student teacher within the New Haven Public Schools.
Her personal ambition is to become a successful elementary school teacher while serving as a positive role model to her students. Her interests include fitness, Gaelic football, hiking, reading mystery books, spending time at the beach, and arts and crafts. She also believes in raising mental health awareness. Taylor is a member of the West Haven Irish-American Club.
Claire Bohan – 2019 Honor Attendant — Claire is the daughter of Seamus and Dina Bohan. She lives in Orange and her ancestors hail from Mohill, County Leitrim. She is currently employed by The Clay Date and Duffy’s Irish Pub. Claire’s personal ambition is to travel the world helping underprivileged children as well as conserving and improving the environment. She aspires to become an art therapist.