2025 Holyoke Colleens Announced
On January 4, 2025 the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke held its annual Grand Colleen Pageant. Nine young women from South Hadley and Holyoke competed to become the Holyoke Grand Colleen finalists.
The application requirements are that the young women must be single (never having been married or had a child), no older than 22 years, and no younger than 17 years by March 17, 2025, residents of either Holyoke or South Hadley, Massachusetts, able to claim Irish ancestry, and complete the resume.
Within the application, the young women are asked to outline their significant accomplishments in the areas of community involvement, academic awards, special recognition in school, any unique hobbies or interests of theirs, and their future plans. The day started with the young women being interviewed by the judges,
Gina Kelleher of Westfield is a dance instructor and co-owner of New England Dance and Gymnastics in Westfield. Gina is a dedicated volunteer and active community member involved in many organizations, including strong ties to Sons of Erin in Westfield, where her grandfather, father, uncles, and in-laws were all charter founding members. Married for 40 years to her husband Tim, Gina is also a proud mother of four and grandmother of five.
Lieutenant Michael Kane of the Westfield Police Department was born and raised in Westfield. His Irish ancestors came from County Kerry, specifically the Dingle area. Lt. Kane attended Westfield State College, earning a Bachelor's and a Master's in Criminal Justice. He is married to a girl from Hungry Hill in Springfield, whose ancestors are from County Cork. Together, they have one daughter.
Sarah Murphy of Agawam is the Director of Resource Management at Market Mentors. She is a proud resident of Western Massachusetts, having grown up in Agawam, where she was a member of the Agawam Colleen Court in 2012. In 2021, she was recognized as one of Business West’s Forty Under Forty. Sarah actively serves on the Foundation for TJO Animals board, where she is involved in fundraising and outreach efforts.
During this morning's interview portion, the contestants were asked questions based on their submitted resumes and applications and judged on their intelligence, personality, poise, and appearance.
Later in the evening, the contestants were escorted by Holyoke Fire Department members on stage at Holyoke High School in front of the judges and crowd. At the same time, their biography was read and judged on their poise and appearance on stage. The judges then met to calculate the combined scores of the morning and evening portions of the event, and the top five young women were announced as the 2025 Grand Colleen Finalists. During this intermission, the 2024 Grand Colleen Elizabeth Katherine Gourde gave a farewell speech with her court, Natalie Belle Morris, Hunter Rose Edwards, Taryn Shaylene Ryan, and Amelia Frances George, who was also Miss Congeniality.
With the scores tabulated, the five finalists were announced;
Erin Marie Gauthier, 20, Holyoke
Abigail Katherine Huebner, 20, South Hadley
Moira Catherine Reardon, 21, Holyoke
Erin Frances O’Donnell, 20, Holyoke
Maura Catherine Joseph, 22, Holyoke
The Bonnie Baker Award for Ms. Congeniality was also announced, and who was chosen by the contestants as the young woman who was the most helpful, kind, and personable. The 2025 Ms. Congeniality is Maura Catherine Joseph.
