Bernie has been a city resident for over 50 years, former City Clerk, leader in Irish cultural revival
From City Hall, pictured is the Mayor with McAneney
HORNELL, NY — Mayor John J. Buckley presented Bernard “Bernie” McAneney with the Key to the City of Hornell during the Hornell Irish Festival on Saturday, August 15, 2026, honoring a longtime resident whose lifetime of service, friendship and dedication has left a lasting mark on the Hornell community.
Born in Philadelphia in 1932 to Irish immigrants Thomas and Catherine (Campbell) McAneney, Bernie moved to Hornell in 1973 and quickly became an important part of the community he has now called home for more than five decades. Along the way, he and his wife, Esther, raised a family of eight children, which has grown to include numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A graduate of LaSalle College and proud United States Army Veteran, Bernie worked at SKF Industries for 40 years before retiring. His commitment to public service included eight years representing the Fifth Ward as Alderman and sixteen years serving the community as Hornell City Clerk.
Bernie’s service, however, has always extended far beyond City Hall. Over the years, he coached Little League and football, served as Commander of the Hornell American Legion, and has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Hornell Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, AMVETS and local Catholic parishes.
His Irish heritage has remained an especially important part of his life. Bernie is credited with helping bring about a resurgence of Irish culture in Hornell and helped establish the local Ancient Order of Hibernians in 2006. In 2018, he was honored as Grand Marshal of the City of Hornell St. Patrick’s Day Parade, making Saturday’s Irish Festival a particularly fitting setting for the presentation of the Key to the City.
“Bernie is one of those people who truly represents what Hornell is all about,” said Mayor Buckley. “He has spent a lifetime serving others, and he has done it with tremendous pride in his family, his heritage and his community. It was a privilege to present him with the Key to the City and to recognize someone who means so much to so many people in Hornell.”
The Key to the City was presented as a symbol of Hornell’s gratitude for Bernie’s extraordinary lifetime of service and for the special place he has earned in the history and heart of the community.
