I
f you’re looking for the end of the
rainbow, you may want to try Robinson
Township—the home of the 2017 Miss
Smiling Irish Eyes, Sydney Diulus.
Diulus was awarded the title by County
Executive Rich Fitzgerald at a luncheon
hosted by the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day
Parade Committee at the Rivers Club. Diulus’
court maidens included Colleen Marie Bench
of McMurray and Megan Rohde of Munhall.
While the trio’s most public role was to
be featured in the St. Patrick’s Day parade
downtown, their duties began the week before
the parade.
“We attended the Button Party at
Mitchell’s—the communion breakfast where
the court members and I took up the gifts
and received our sashes; the Miss Smiling
Irish Eyes luncheon where I was crowned;
“Pittsburgh Today Live” at the Home Show
with Kristine Sorenson and John Burnett;
and finally, parade day, where I attended Mass
at St. Patrick’s in the Strip District,” Diulus
says. “In August I will attend the Maiden of
the Mourne festival in Warrenpoint, Ireland,
with other girls from around the globe. Next
year, when the new Miss Smiling Irish Eyes is
selected, I will present her with the sash at the
communion breakfast.”
While Diulus is the first in her family to be
part of the court, she and her family members
have long been supporters of the parade and
their Irish heritage.
“I have been attending Pittsburgh’s St.
Patrick’s Day parade since I was a little
girl. Many of my family members march in
the parade every year. It was a wonderful
experience participating with them this year as
Miss Smiling Irish Eyes,” she says. “My father,
Paul, has been a member of the Ancient Order
of Hibernians Division 23 for about 40 years
and my stepmother, Kathleen Diulus, is the
current Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians
County President. She is also a member of
L.A.O.H. Division 23, of which I also became
a member earlier this year.”
Diulus is a biology/pre-med major and
Dean’s List student at Duquesne University.
She has studied abroad at University College
Dublin and is an honors graduate of Montour
High School. She has been an active member
of National Service Sorority Gamma Sigma
Sigma and Duquesne University’s Pre-Medical
Student Organization. She has volunteered
at Camp Erin Children’s Grief Camp, The
Children’s Institute and at UPMC Mercy
Hospital. Diulus has also been a research
intern at the University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine and has held various student jobs
(L to r): Megan Rohde, Sydney Diulus and Colleen Bench
with County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.
on campus including tour guide and working
in the Chemistry Department.
Her time in Ireland, she says, was life
changing.
“In the spring of 2015, I attended Duquesne
in Dublin for about five months and was able
to travel all over Ireland as well as six countries
in Europe,” she recalls. “This was a once-in-
a-lifetime experience that encouraged me to
take pride in my Irish heritage and continue
my involvement in the Irish community.”
“I have been attending
Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s
Day parade since I was a
little girl. Many of my
family members march in
the parade every year.
It was a wonderful
experience participating
with them this year as
Miss Smiling Irish Eyes.”
The crowning also comes with a $500
scholarship to help with school costs.
The title of Miss Smiling Irish Eyes has been
presented for more than 50 years. The queen
and her court participate in various festivities
held the week leading up to the St. Patrick’s
Day Parade and also have the honor of
participating in the second-largest St. Patrick’s
Day parade in the country.
“Crowning Pittsburgh’s Miss Smiling Irish
Eyes is always one of the highlights of my year.
This year is no exception, and I congratulate
Sydney, Colleen and Megan on the honor of
representing our community,” says Fitzgerald.
“In this community, St. Patrick’s Day is a
celebration of all things Irish, even by some
who are only Irish in spirit. On St. Patrick’s
Day, we welcome them all.”
Court maiden Colleen Marie Bench is a
freshman at Penn State University where
she majors in kinesiology. She has also
served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy
Communion, a member of the Kinesiology
Club and a member of the Dancer Relations
Committee of THON. A graduate of Seton La
Salle High School, Bench has been active in
competitive Irish dancing, first with the Bell
School of Irish Dance, and now as a member
of the Irish dance club Rince na Leon at Penn
State. She is the daughter of Kathleen and
Michael Bench.
The Pittsburgh Miss Smiling Irish Eyes
program is open to all local young women
who meet the following criteria:
• A single woman, between the ages of 17
and 22, of Irish birth or descent, currently
residing in the Pittsburgh area.
• An outstanding representative of the
Irish community of Pittsburgh by
demonstrating excellent moral character,
ethical ideals and poise.
• Actively promotes pride in her Irish
heritage and ancestry, and shows a
dedicated involvement to local civic and
charitable organizations.
For more information on the Miss Smiling
Irish Eyes award or the St. Patrick’s Day
parade, go to pittsburghirish.org. n
Carlynton-Montour | Summer 2017 | icmags.com 11