Kevin Coyne has been named the 2025 iIrish Person of the Year by iIrish newsmagazine. According to the newsmagazine, annually, an Irish man or woman remarkable in service, dedication and accomplishment is selected to be named iIrish Person of the Year. Kevin, a funeral director of the McMahon-Coyne Funeral Home, is extremely proud of his Irish heritage and his family, including his two sons, Liam and Padraig, said Nancy Coyne, Kevin’s mother. Kevin being named iIrish Person of the Year was a surprise, Nancy said. “His brothers surprised him with a party and Kevin didn’t know,” she said. “John O’Brien from iIrish came out and presented him with the award. There’s only been three recipients so far.” Nancy describes her son as a “typical Irish man.” “Kevin is a great example of the term ‘Irish eyes,’ which holds a special place in Irish culture,” she said. “Most of the time, you will see Kevin wearing his tam and having a mischievous twinkle in his bright, blue, Irish eyes.” Nancy told iIrish that she loves Kevin’s love of Irish music and that she has always said to people that Kevin comes from the heart. “His kindness and caring for others extend far beyond his family, and the funeral home,” she said. “He inherited these traits from his grandpa, who was a kind and gentle Irish man.” Kevin Coyne has been named the 2025 iIrish Person of the Year by iIrish newsmagazine, a “huge honor” in the Irish world. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Kevin Coyne, middle, at the Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade with his sons. (Kevin Coyne)Kevin Coyne has been named iIrish Person of the Year by iIrish newsmagazine. (Kevin Coyne)Kevin Coyne, middle, at the Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade with his sons. (Kevin Coyne)Kevin Coyne, middle, with his sons at The Arcade in Cleveland for the Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade. (Kevin Coyne)Show Caption1 of 5Kevin Coyne has been named the 2025 iIrish Person of the Year by iIrish newsmagazine, a “huge honor” in the Irish world. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Expand Since being named, Kevin said he has had many big name Irish people on the west and east side reach out to him. He noted that during the Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade this year, judges and many others came up to Kevin as well. “I went to school at University of Cincinnati and I had a buddy down at Cincinnati call me to say, ‘I’m sitting in a pub in Cincinnati and I look over, and see your face,’ ” Kevin said. “There’s so many Irish people in Cleveland they could pick. For (O’Brien) to pick me was such an honor. (O’Brien) should be an iIrish Person of the Year. This guy promotes Irish all the time and that’s what you do.” Kevin said he now feels he has some credibility with the honor. “(O’Brien) — this is his thing,” he said. “He’s so involved in the Irish community. It’s your love of Irish heritage that’s what you do in the community for people. It’s a mix of everything. Friends and family can call on us, and we’re there to take care of their loved one. I think that’s a huge thing.” Kevin grew up listening to Irish music daily and he now does the same with his children. “We get in the car and it’s so cool because I can see them kind of bopping their head a little, and mouthing the words,” he said. Seamus Coyne, Kevin’s brother, said he is proud of his brother for getting this honor. “I swear every day he does something to remind someone how proud he is to have Irish ancestry,” Seamus told the news magazine. “Whether it’s something as simple as listening to an Irish song, taking a picture of a cloud shaped like a shamrock or telling us to turn on the Gerry Quinn Irish radio show.” Seamus describes Kevin as his “big little brother,” as he’s always being a goofball, making jokes with everyone in the community. However, when it’s time to turn on his compassion, Kevin has one of the biggest hearts. “I know he’s always there for people in need and he’s there for his family when they need him,” Seamus said. Nancy said that while the west side of Cleveland is a more established Irish community, the Coynes have strived to develop the east side for many years. Two years ago, Kevin’s father was named grand marshal for the Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade. “I must have had a dozen people tell me, ‘Your next thing is going to be grand marshal of the Cleveland parade,’ ” Kevin said. ...read more read less