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John J. Concannon, a journalist who was active in Irish-American affairs, died March 3 in a hospital in Austin, Texas. He was 86.
Mr. Concannon was the public relations director for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manhattan from 1966 to 1985.
He was an associate editor at Newsweek magazine, where he worked for many years until his retirement in 1989. Earlier he worked for Collier’s magazine. He also wrote for the Irish Echo and other Irish publications.
He was a past president of the New York Financial Writers Association and the Galwaymen’s Association. A member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, he did publicity and public relations for the organization on the division, county, state and national levels. He had been AOH national historian.
Born in Manhattan, he grew up in the Bronx and graduated from the College of the City of New York.
He and his wife, Bridget, lived for many years in the Bronx and later in Queens. His wife predeceased him. He is survived by their daughters, Allanah Feeney and Maryhelen Foley; he had lived recently in Austin with Mrs. Foley. Also surviving is his brother, Brother David Concannon, C.F.C.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated March 9 at St. Andrew Avellino Church in Queens. Burial was at St. Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx.
