The IrIsh AmerIcAn PArTnershIPSupporting Education in Ireland, North and South

sT. PATrIck’s DAy BreAkfAsT celeBrATIon

mArch 17, 2015Boston HarBor Hotel

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 invo-cation. 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 Founda-tion 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 involve-ment, 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 spon-sorship of travel grants to the Royal Dublin Society Primary Science Fair. She highlighted the many linkages between Boston and Ireland, and spoke opti-mistically 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.

1

St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast 2015

Thanks to all those who attended

Chicago St. Patrick’s Day 2015

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 commu-nity 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 Agree-ment. The Community Foundation and The Atlantic Philanthropies have committed a combined £4 million to the Fund already, and Atlantic has vowed to match addi-tional 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.

Proceeds benefited

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s Human Rights Fund

2

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

Dr. Avila Kilmurray

3View the full photo album at www.irishap.org

The Irish American Partnershipwould like to thank the following for their assistance in making

the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast Celebration a success:

Breakfast Sponsors

l l l

Host Committee

The Irish American Partnership works to empower the next generation of Irish leaders by supporting educational initia-tives. 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.

About the Irish American Partnership

The Irish American Partnership15 Broad Street, Boston, MA 02109 - Phone: (617) 723-2707 - Email: info@irishap.org - Website: www.irishap.org - Twitter: @irishaporg 4

Jim BrettNew England Council

Aidan Browne, Esq.Sullivan & Worcester, LLP

Charles L. Donahue, Jr.Partnership Board Member

The Hon. Linda Dorcena ForryState Senator

Kevin KelleyIronshore Inc.

Michael O’Connor Irish Cultural Center

Brian T. O’Neill, Esq.Law Offices of Brian T. O’Neill

Kathleen O’TooleO’Toole Associates

William J. Reilly, Jr.Partnership Board Member

The Hon. Elizabeth WarrenU.S. Senator

Kevin W. LearyVPNE Parking Solutions

Brian McMenimen, Esq. Prince Lobel Tye LLP

Sean Moynihan, Esq. The Moynihan Group

The Hon. Richard Neal U.S. Representative