The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Newport couldn’t choose just one — so they chose both.
Paula Silvia and Sandy Gallagher have been named co-Lady Hibernians of the Year for 2026, a joint honor the organization said reflects the pair’s decades of quiet, tireless service to the Newport community.
“They’re known as the ‘background singers,’ but they’re not just there for the show — they’re there to make a difference,” LAOH Newport President Kathryn Brady said. “They always jump in when they see a need, and they never need to be asked.”
Together, Silvia and Gallagher have been central figures in the LAOH for nearly a decade, helping welcome new members through the screening committee, running the Hibernian Children’s Christmas Party, volunteering at Rhode Island Blood Center drives and coordinating the group’s Poinsettia Project, which honors senior, recovering and homebound sisters during the holiday season. Both are also active with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, the Mosaic Club and the Vasco Da Gama Society.
Gallagher, a lifelong Newport resident and Rogers High School graduate, retired after 37 years in the medical field. She joined the LAOH in 2007. She and her late husband, Michael, have a son, James, and a grandson, Tommy.
Silvia grew up in Newport’s Fifth Ward and spent 36 years at Salas’ Restaurant before continuing her culinary career with Kitchen Companion Catering and McGrath Clambakes. She joined the LAOH in 2006. She and her husband, Manny, live in Middletown and have a daughter, Corinne, a son, Greg, and a granddaughter, Sophia.