The Irish American Partnership Supporting Education in Ireland, North and South
St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast Celebration March 17, 2015 Boston Harbor Hotel
St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast 2015 The Irish American Partnership hosted its annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast celebration on Tuesday, March 17th at the Boston Harbor Hotel. The event was well-attended by Irish-American community and business leaders. Mary Conroy Henderson opened the celebration with the American and Irish national anthems. She was followed by Father Joy, who offered the invocation. Partnership President Joe Leary served as the Master of Ceremonies, welcoming guests to the breakfast and warmly introducing each speaker before they took the podium. Executive Director Mary Sugrue McAleer provided a summary of the Partnership’s work in Ireland, sharing letters written by the appreciative students and teachers and success stories from the Partnership’s steady involvement over the past 25 years. Avila Kilmurray, former Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, gave a sobering update on the state of affairs in Northern Ireland. Kilmurray was at the event to promote the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s new initiative, the Human Rights Fund. Her first-hand experience with the Troubles, extensive community involvement, and frustration with the government’s inability to pass a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland provided a unique perspective. Her speech celebrated the tremendous progress made in the North, yet reminded the audience of how much still needs to be done. Attendees then heard remarks from Mayor Marty Walsh, who shared a touching story of visiting his father’s primary school back in Connemara and experiencing a profound connection to his own roots. He emphasized the importance of keeping touch with one’s heritage and the value that diverse cultural traditions bring to a city like Boston. Tánaiste Joan Burton TD followed the mayor’s speech with a discussion of the importance of educational funding and the current untapped potential for growth in areas such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). She praised the Partnership’s work in promoting science education and sponsorship of travel grants to the Royal Dublin Society Primary Science Fair. She highlighted the many linkages between Boston and Ireland, and spoke optimistically about the potential for an equitable trade relationship to emerge as Ireland’s economy continues to recover.
Tánaiste Joan Burton TD addresses the crowd at the Partnership’s St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast.
Mayor Marty Walsh speaks about the importance of staying connected to one’s heritage.
The Partnership presents a $10,000 check to Avila Kilmurray for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Fund. L-R: Tánaiste Joan Burton, Joe Leary, Avila Kilmurray, Mary Sugrue McAleer, and Mayor Marty Walsh.
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Thanks to all those who attended
Chicago St. Patrick’s Day 2015
Partnership President Joe Leary, New England Council President Jim Brett, and General Manager of the Seaport Boston James Carmody
Tommy McCarthy, Louise Costello, Seamus Noonan, and Jimmy Noonan
Father Joy and Dr. Avila Kilmurray
Mayor Marty Walsh visits with breakfast attendees
Proceeds benefited
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s Human Rights Fund
The Community Foundation has been driving social change in local communities for 30 years through successful grant-making and fund development, encouraging peace and equality, and promoting community development to alleviate poverty among the most disadvantaged. Their new initiative, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Fund, is an effort to 1. embed a culture of rights throughout Northern Ireland, 2. build a fair and just society based on the principles of equality and respect, and 3.
consolidate the peace process by delivering the commitments on human rights and civic participation made in the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement. The Community Foundation and The Atlantic Philanthropies have committed a combined £4 million to the Fund already, and Atlantic has vowed to match additional contributions to the Community Foundation up to £3 million. The Partnership was proud to present a $10,000 check to kick-start this matching campaign.
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Dr. Avila Kilmurray
View the full photo album at www.irishap.org
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The Irish American Partnership would like to thank the following for their assistance in making the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast Celebration a success:
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Breakfast Sponsors
Host Committee Jim Brett
Kevin W. Leary
New England Council
VPNE Parking Solutions
Aidan Browne, Esq.
Brian McMenimen, Esq.
Sullivan & Worcester, LLP
Charles L. Donahue, Jr. Partnership Board Member
The Hon. Linda Dorcena Forry State Senator
Michael O’Connor Irish Cultural Center
Brian T. O’Neill, Esq.
Prince Lobel Tye LLP
Law Offices of Brian T. O’Neill
Sean Moynihan, Esq.
Kathleen O’Toole
The Hon. Richard Neal
Partnership Board Member
The Moynihan Group
U.S. Representative
Kevin Kelley Ironshore Inc.
O’Toole Associates
William J. Reilly, Jr.
The Hon. Elizabeth Warren U.S. Senator
About the Irish American Partnership The Irish American Partnership works to empower the next generation of Irish leaders by supporting educational initiatives. In the past year, we have sent nearly a million dollars to Ireland, North and South, funding direct grants to primary schools, science teacher training, university access scholarships, and employment learning programs. The Partnership provides forums for visiting leaders from Ireland to speak in the U.S., connecting Irish-Americans with their heritage and promoting economic development through tourism, trade, and mutual exchange. The Irish American Partnership 15 Broad Street, Boston, MA 02109 - Phone: (617) 723-2707 - Email: info@irishap.org - Website: www.irishap.org - Twitter: @irishaporg
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