Failte (pronounced “Fall - teh”) is Irish for “welcome,” which is certainly what we want to do for the Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities’ new Receptionist/Administrative Assistant and Board Secretary, Marian Joyce.

Born in the city of Cork in Ireland, Marian started with the Authorities on May 15^th of this year.

Marian moved to the U.S. in 1985 because her husband Michael, a native of New Holland, PA, ”got homesick, so we moved back to the Lancaster area.”  Her family also includes two daughters - Nora and Maeve - and their dog Pongo, a border collie mix. 

Some of Marian’s favorite things about Lancaster are the mix of the city/country environment (“I like the cultural life, but also being so close to the green countryside.”), the diversity of the people, and the County library system.

“I also like the philanthropic and volunteer nature of the people,” she added.

It was, in fact, her own volunteer work on a homelessness task force, as well as, her work at the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce in its economic development department that led her to apply for the vacant position with the Authorities.

“Since the Authority is involved in both of these (homelessness and economic development), I thought it would be a nice mix,” Marian explained.  “I also like fountains and thought it would be nice to be close to Binn’s Park.”

She admits though that Lancaster County is “too far from the ocean for me.  I grew up three minutes from the ocean.”  The oldest of five children, she also misses her parents and her brothers and sisters who are still in Ireland.  She and her family did return to the Emerald Isle last year for her parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary.

So join us in making Marian feel at home here at the Authority.  Her proficient work ethic, her friendly smile, and her slight brogue would be welcome in any language.