James Comerford Papers

James J. Comerford was a New York City Criminal Court judge and influential member of the Irish-American community. Comerford was born in 1901 in County Kilhenny, Ireland and served in the Irish Volunteers, from a member of the Junior IRA group, the Fianna Eireann, to captain of the Coon District IRA Company. In 1925, Comerford emigrated to America, where he received his undergraduate and masters degrees from Columbia University and a law degree from Fordham University. After becoming a lawyer in 1947, he worked as Assistant District Attorney until being appointed a judge in the Criminal Court of New York City in 1953, where he worked until 1971. While working as a judge, he earned his PhD in Public Administration from New York University.

Outside of his professional life, Comerford was actively involved in a number of Irish-American organizations – most notably as Chairman of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade from 1965 to 1984. He became a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1936, and held offices including National President, New York County President, National Historian, and Editor of the National Hibernian Digest. He served as President of the County Kilkenny Society and the United Irish Counties Association, including ten years as Chairman of the United Irish Counties Association Feis Committee.

Comerford maintained a life-long interest in Irish and Irish-American issues. In 1978, he published a book about his time in the IRA, entitled “My Kilkenny IRA Days: 1916-22." He also served as President and Chairman of the Board of the Irish Press Corporation in the 1970s-1980s.

In 1944, Comerford married Vera Carr. They remained married until his death in 1988, and had no children.