OLSH Senior Is Crowned Pittsburgh's 'Miss Smiling Irish Eyes'

For 18-year-old Mary Kate Gallagher, celebrating Irish heritage isn't reserved for St. Patrick's Day. 

Her father, Mike Gallagher, is a Pittsburgh-area Irish ballad singer—her grandfather before him crooned Irish songs on the radio. On the other side of the family, her grandfather was once named Pittsburgh's "Irishman of the year" some 30 years ago.

So it's no wonder that Gallagher, a senior at the Moon-based , was named this year's Miss Smiling Irish Eyes of Pittsburgh. 

"It's something I grew up with," said Gallagher of her Irish heritage. "When I was younger, I used to do Irish step dancing." 

Gallagher said Irish roots run deep in her family. 

"My father's really busy [with performances] this time of year," Gallagher said. "We have a big family, and when we would get together with my aunts--they all have really great voices--and cousins we'd sing and perform."

Gallagher, who plans to attend Seton Hill University and major in elementary education, was selected for the honor in February. The Pittsburgh Irish Network chooses young women of Irish heritage who exemplify moral character and work to promote their Celtic heritage. 

The McKees Rocks resident, who is the youngest of four children, participates in volleyball, cheerleading and track and field at OLSH. She also is an honor roll student. 

She will be front and center Saturday at Pittsburgh's St. Patrick's Day parade, which will start at 10 a.m. Downtown at the Greyhound Bus Station and proceed down Grant Street. 

Gallagher will appear in the parade with two members of the Miss Smiling Irish Eyes Court in a carriage. Today she will attend a crowning ceremony in Pittsburgh, at which the Pittsburgh Irish network will play host. 

She said cousins and extended family and a few of her friends from OLSH will be there to cheer her on. Her father also will perform at the event, which marks the second largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the country. 

"I'm not really nervous," Gallagher said. "I've been in the parade before as a step dancer." 

Gallagher said she was inspired to apply to become Miss Smiling Irish Eyes after she watched her friend and fellow OLSH student Katherine Christoff, of Coraopolis, win the honor last year. 

"I sent in a resume and a photo and told them about some of the activates I'm in at school and volunteer work that I've done," she said. "It just looked like a lot of fun." 

Will you be attending the St. Patrick's Day parade in Pittsburgh? How will you be St. Patrick's Day in Moon Township?