MEMBER OF THE
Miss Smiling Irish Eyes Court
Seton LaSalle grad Colleen Bench is the third member of her family to be part of the Miss Smiling Irish Eyes court .
“ It was truly an honor to be a part of this year ’ s Miss Smiling Irish Eyes court . I had an amazing time and was so proud to be able to represent the Pittsburgh Irish community .”
If you ’ re looking for the end of the rainbow , 2017 Miss Smiling Irish Eyes court member Colleen Bench may be able to light the way . County Executive Rich Fitzgerald named Bench to the court at a luncheon hosted by the Pittsburgh St . Patrick ’ s Day Parade Committee at the Rivers Club , along with Megan Rohde of Munhall and Miss Smiling Irish Eyes herself , Sydney Diulus . 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 had Mass and breakfast with Bishop Zubik , and were presented to the Pittsburgh City Council in the morning , and then the Allegheny County Council that evening . Then there was the crowning ceremony for Sydney . The next day we were interviewed on ‘ Pittsburgh Today Live ,’” Bench explains . “ Finally , we rode in a horse-drawn carriage as part of the parade and then went to the judges stand to watch the rest of the parade . For Megan and me , that was the end of our duties as court members . Sydney , however , will go on to compete in Ireland .”
Bench is the third member in her family to be part of the court . Her aunt , Colleen , was on the court in 1988 , and her sister , Katie , was on the court in 2014 . She and her family members have long been supporters of the parade and their Irish heritage .
Photos by Margaret Stanley , Allegheny County Photography
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