YOUNGSTOWN — The Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians have named Michael James Murphy as Irish Man of the Year and Colleen Collins Boyle as Irish Woman of the Year.

This year’s celebration will be March 17 at St. Patrick Parish and Hall on Oak Street in Youngstown. Tickets are $30 each and must be purchased in advance. To secure tickets, text Missy Kelly at 330‑565‑7811. No tickets will be sold at the door.

JAMES MURPHY

Born in Youngstown in 1955, Michael James Murphy is a lifelong resident and 1973 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School. He retired after 45 years with the Youngstown Water Department.

A member of St. Christine Church, he served on the Renewal and Family Life Committees, the Holy Name Society and as a Eucharistic minister. Murphy and his wife, Lorraine “Lulu” Murphy, married in 1986 and have one daughter, Kelly, a school psychologist in Cincinnati. Kelly and her husband, Tim, have one son, Daniel “Danny Boy” Peterson, who was born in 2024.

Murphy is the son of Daniel Murphy and Beverly Cramb and the brother of Peggy Bennett and Mary Kay Sharp, the latter a past LAOH Irish Woman of the Year. A dedicated member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Murphy helped found the AOH Luck of the Irish basketball tournament, supported the post‑parade celebration and played an instrumental role in securing a meeting hall for the organization.

He served 12 years on the Youngstown Board of Education, spending most of that time as vice president and serving on both the athletic and finance committees. Today, he continues to represent his community as a precinct committee member.

“It is such an honor to receive this award. To have my name placed along some of the greatest Irish men in Youngstown is a lifelong dream. I can think of no greater honor than being named Youngstown’s AOH Irish Man of the Year,” Murphy said.

COLLEEN COLLINS BOYLE

Born in Youngstown in 1953, Colleen Collins Boyle is the eldest of eight children of Raymond and Virginia Biggins Collins. Much of her upbringing centered around St. Christine Parish, family traditions and strong Irish heritage.

A graduate of Ursuline High School and Youngstown State University, she married Tom Boyle in 1974. Tom’s mother was born in County Mayo, further strengthening their family’s Irish lineage. Together they raised two children: Erin, commissioner of the Youngstown City Health Department, and Kevin, a marathon runner who has completed races in 15 states. She has two grandsons, Jack and Ethan.

Boyle began her professional career in the City of Youngstown Finance Department. She was Director of Faith Formation at St. Christine Parish for more than 40 years. She led annual Christmas Caritas outreach, transforming the parish center into a haven of generosity for families in need.

Following her husband’s death in 2016, Boyle continued her lifelong mission of service. She and her family joined the founding committee of the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality in Youngstown after she traveled to New York City to learn firsthand about the mission of the Day Houses. Her inspiration helped bring that vision home to the local community.