The Grand Council of United Emerald Societies (GCUES) has named Patrick J. Ryder, Police Commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department, as its 2026 Irishman of the Year.
Ryder, a lifelong New Yorker and proud son of Irish emigrants from County Dublin, will be formally honoured at the GCUES Irishman of the Year Dinner on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, at Antun’s of Queens Village — a long-standing gathering place for New York’s Irish-American community.
A veteran of more than four decades in law enforcement, Ryder began his career with the New York City Police Department in 1984 before transferring to Nassau County two years later. Rising through the ranks, he became Police Commissioner — a post from which he has championed community engagement, training reform, and cross-department collaboration.
Colleagues describe him as a leader defined, says Grand Council President Martin Bellew, by “uncompromising integrity and an unshakeable work ethic." His Irish roots, adds Bellew, have always shaped his sense of public duty.
In recognition of his 42 years of service and his contribution to the Irish-American community, Ryder will also serve as Aide to the Grand Marshal at the 2026 New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade, joining Grand Marshal Robert J. McCann on Fifth Avenue on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
The GCUES award is one of the most distinguished honours in New York’s Irish-American circles, celebrating those who embody both professional excellence and cultural pride. Ryder’s selection, Bellew says, reflects “a lifetime of service — to his county, his community, and his heritage.”
