The St. Joseph Award was established in 2007 to recognize those extraordinary individuals who have touched our community and set examples for our children. This year, it is presented to Mr. Niall Gunn, a long-time member, close friend and devoted supporter of our club.

Niall Patrick Gunn owns Monaghan's, the Rockville Centre restaurant named for his native County Monaghan, in Ireland, where he received his Catholic education and gained his soft Irish brogue. Niall and his wife Kathleen immigrated to America in 1986 and settled in Rockville Centre 16 years later. Niall has felt blessed here in Rockville Centre and loves giving back to the town that adopted him as one of their own. They have one son, Dylan, who graduated St. Agnes Cathedral School with the Class of 2017. Dylan received a great education at St. Agnes and went on from there to Regis High School in Manhattan. Dylan is living the American dream and, at age 16, the world is his to conquer.

Niall has been a member of the St. Agnes Fathers' Club since 2009. He is also on the Board of Directors for the RVC St. Patrick’s Parade Committee and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Friendly Sons. He has made it his passion to help those in need by raising as much money as possible in several philanthropic efforts. And his goal now is to raise at least $50,000-a-year for charity.

Among his outside-of-the-box ideas is one to achieve a "Guinness World Record" for having the most people ever dressed as elves. So far, Niall has made two attempts at the record, in 2012 and 2013, when 600 people dressed as elves in what Niall has come to call his "Elf Yourself" events. No records have yet been set, but Niall has raised a combined $35,000 so far. In addition, Niall has run nine “RVC Winter Olympics” social events which have so far raised $96,000 all told. Niall thanks all of his fellow Fathers' Club members who serve each year as willing participants. Also, the RVC Road Warrior’s 5K Race, which raised $10,000 in November, is an event Niall hopes to do every year. 

Niall's next big fundraiser will be the first Saint Agnes "Guest Celebrity Dunk Tank" which will be held in May in tandem with the St. Agnes Fathers' Club's annual "Guest Bartender" night at Monaghan's. The goal will be to cross the $10,000 mark.
 
Though his son has long graduated, Niall remains an active member of the St. Agnes Fathers’ Club and is proud to receive the St. Joseph Award.