Treasa Catherine was born and raised on the family farm in Cobh, County Cork, one of ten children, including her twin sister, Sinead, born to Patrick and Teresa Coffey. She attended St. Mary’s National School and Cobh Vocational School. She was the first young woman from her county to receive an academic scholarship to study Farm Management at Gurteen Agricultural College, which was groundbreaking for young women at that time. Before her career as a farm accountant with Farm Business Advisors, Treasa managed many farms in Ireland.
After moving from Co. Cork to N.Y.C. in 1980, Treasa earned a nursing degree and license as a Registered Professional Nurse. After graduation, she spent years in many nursing specialties, her favorite being Labor and Delivery and the Operating Room. During Covid Treasa was hired by Warner Media as a Registered Nurse Administrator in their Covid testing area. During that time Treasa studied and became a Nurse Transformation Coach, and enjoys working with her clients.
Treasa manages to play key roles in so many areas of support for the Irish and American communities in New York. She is a past President of the Co. Cork B.P.& P. Association of N.Y. and has been honored twice as Cork Woman of the Year by the Association, once in N.Y. and once in Ireland. She also has been involved with the United Irish Counties as a Cork Delegate. Treasa is on the Board of Directors of CIAA Scholastic Inc., The Mulcahy Scholarship – Project Children, Shannon Gaels G.A.A. Club as well as the N.Y. Camogie Officers and Coaches.
Treasa is extremely well known on the broadcasting and sporting scene. She has been the voice of the All Ireland Finals on Fordham University Radio, WFUV 90.7FM, for over 35-years. She was the first female in the world to be involved in the coverage of these great finals on radio. Treasa is also the host of Ireland Calls Radio Show N.Y. Ireland Calls has been part of the American Irish Fabric for more than fifty years and has the distinction of being the longest-running Irish Radio show in the US. In 2015, Ireland Calls Radio Show was inducted into the Ireland Radio Hall of Fame. Together with her husband Tommy Smyth, ESPN – TV Soccer Analyst, and Grumpy Pundits host, they both co-host, WNBC’s coverage of the famed N.Y.C. St. Patrick’s Day Parade on 5th Ave. Treasa has been involved with the Parade since 1991, and as a member of the Parade Committee, volunteers in many areas of the Parade.
Treasa has served as President of the New York Young Ireland’s Camogie Club for over 10 years. She was instrumental in getting the N.Y. International 7-A-Side tournament up and running. In 2009 she was a subject for the `GAA Oral History Project’. An outstanding camogie player, she has represented Cobh, Imokilly, Cork, and New York. She has coached many ladies, young and old in the skills of the game and is currently a Camogie Coach with Shannon Gaels G.A.A. Club in Queens N.Y. In recognition of her many accomplishments, she has received many awards including having been chosen as the 2003 Female Grand Marshal of the Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Rockaway Beach, N.Y. and was honored to be chosen as an Aide to Grand Marshal Fr. Colm Campbell, representing Irish sports in the Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Parade. Treasa has run over 20-marathons and currently is an inspirational running coach, for her local community in Queens. Treasa is a proud member of LAOH Division 15 Whitestone, and their current Missions & Charities officer. She is a parishioner of Our Lady of Hope in Middle Village, Queens.
Treasa is very proud and humbled to be chosen as “Aide At Large” for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and sincerely thanks the Parade Board and Committee for this wonderful honor. She extends congratulations, to Grand Marshal Maggie Timoney and her fellow Aides. Treasa is the proud mother of Anthony and Lisa and the proud grandmother of two, Brendan and Sloane.
