AN Athy native who has led the charge on LGBT rights in New York for many decades has been recognised by the President with a distinguished award.

Brendan Fay, community activist, theologian, film maker and public speaker, is the co founder of the LGBT group Lavender and Green. He was chosen by President Michael D Higgins as the recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.

Brendan was born in Athy in 1958 and lived at Pairc Bhríde with his family until he was 10 years old.

The family, five girls and two boys, then moved to Drogheda. His father worked in an asbestos factory and at the age of eight Brendan started first job packing spuds at the local grocery in the town.

He is now one of the most influential activists in New York and was the driving force behind the all-inclusive St Pat’s for All parade in Queens.

He was presented with the award in Áras an Uachtarain on Thursday night along with fellow recipient and co founder of Lavender and Green Kathleen Walsh D’Arcy.

Brendan is also a founding member of the Irish AIDS Outreach organisation in 1996 which sought to break the silence around AIDS in the Irish community in New York. He has been active on immigration reform (UAFA), civil marriage, AIDS awareness and human rights.

He was chosen for the award for his unrelenting work for LGBT rights, and in particular Irish LGBT rights, in New York for several decades, forming the inclusive St. Pat’s For All Parade in 1999 as an alternative to the 5th Avenue Parade.

Along with Kathleen Walsh D’Arcy, he worked for years to secure the right of Irish gay groups to march in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC, a right which was finally won in 2016.

Brendan said that the award “is a huge recognition of the movement to make our St Patrick’s parades and celebrations more welcoming”.

“The award is an acknowledgment of the efforts of LGBT immigrants finding our place in the New York Irish diaspora, and honors the Irish community who supported and advocated for inclusion in the face of prejudice,” he said.

There was another Athy connection on the night. Sr Mary Sweeny was awarded the peace, reconcilliation and development award. She has worked tirelessly for over 40 years, often with limited support, in the extremely challenging environment that is Sierra Leone. Sr Mary is related to the owner’s of Frank O’Brien’s pub in Athy.