The San Jose – Dublin Sister City Program honors Brendan O’Flaherty and Sean O’Kane for their tireless leadership on the San Jose Shamrock Run. Their passions go beyond the race and extend deep into the community. Here’s a little bit more about them:
SEAN O’KANE
Past President of the San Jose – Dublin Sister City Program, Sean O’Kane is the winner of three film and video awards for acting and voice talent and is President of Big Kahuna Video Productions where he brings his experience as writer, director, and voice-talent for corporate videos.
In addition to Sean’s behind-the-camera experience, he has also worked as a standup comic, actor, and voice-actor, and has performed with notable A-listers that include Jay Leno, Dennis Miller, Dana Carvey, and Howie Mandel. He has numerous made for TV movie credits and has been directly involved as a writer and voice talent for radio and television commercials and the video game industry. Sean comes with an extensive background in the world of hi-tech, specifically (IoT) Internet of Things, Virtual Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and Cognitive Computing. What is important in Sean’s life are his family, friends, and creating new possibilities everyday for himself and others. He is a past board member and secretary of History San Jose, and a current board member of the San Jose Police Foundation. In memory of Sean’s beloved son, Colin, who was a LaCrosse player and a firefighter, he started the Colin O’Kane Foundation that raises money for first responders and research in early detection of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In addition, the foundation raises money for boys and girls who want to play LaCrosse but don’t have the equipment or the access to teams or camps.
Brendan and Sean got together their mutual interests of running and Ireland and developed the Shamrock Run – a fundraiser for the San Jose – Dublin Sister City Pat McMahon Masters Level Scholarship Program – along with JT Service of Run Local. The inaugural run on March 17, 2019 was a great success. So come on out in March 2021 and join Sean, Brendan, and the Sister City Program for a 5k, 10k, Leprechaun Chase for the kids, Irish culture, and all around family fun.
BRENDAN O’FLAHERTY
Brendan joined the San Jose – Dublin Sister City Board five years ago. He followed in his father’s footsteps, Ray O’Flaherty, who was one of the founding members of the San Jose – Dublin Sister City Program in 1986. Brendan was born in Cork and moved to the U.S. when he was 10, grew up in San Jose, and attended Bellarmine and Santa Clara University. Brendan was a runner in college and coached high school cross country. A little know fact is that one of his athletes was Sam Liccardo, currently the Mayor of San Jose.
Brendan is the CEO of cPacket Networks in San Jose. He also is Managing Partner at two local establishments, O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub on San Pedro Street https://www.oflahertyspub.com/ and Five Points right around the corner on Santa Clara Street. https://www.fivepointssj.com/. The real boss, at O’Flaherty’s, as everyone knows, is Marie O’Flaherty, Brendan’s mother. Brendan’s partner at both, David Mulvehill, keeps all running smoothly. Feel free to come down to O’Flaherty’s for a pint or to Five Points, a New York-themed craft cocktail bar. Our motto is “You’re a stranger here, but once” Brendan and his wonderful wife Jeanette live in Saratoga with their four children. No wonder he needs two jobs!
Brendan and Sean got together their mutual interests of running and Ireland and developed the Shamrock Run – a fundraiser for the San Jose – Dublin Sister City Pat McMahon Masters Level Scholarship Program – along with JT Service of Run Local. The inaugural run on March 17, 2019 was a great success. So come on out in March 2021 and join Sean, Brendan, and the Sister City Program for a 5k, 10k, Leprechaun Chase for the kids, Irish culture, and all around family fun.
