Events Digest
“No more impact can you have when you really trying to change the dial in a person’s life, and offer them the key opportunity to realize their potential and their ambition.”
– Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, TD
More than 450 of our friends and supporters joined the Partnership on March 17th to celebrate our 30th annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast at the InterContinental Hotel. We were honored to welcome our keynote speaker, Irish Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD, who joined us for the Boston-area festivities.
Aidan McKenna – Enterprise Ireland, Representative Jamie Murphy, Jim Brett – New England Council, Partnership CEO Mary Sugrue, Mark Carthy, Lady Audrey Greer, Consul General Sighle Fitzgerald, Bob Rivers, Susan Whoriskey, Minister Peter Burke, TD, Ambassador Claire Cronin, Prof. Sir Ian Greer – Queen’s University Belfast, John Cullinane
Following a wonderful networking reception and rousing procession by piper Joe Cheevers, our guest speaker Representative John Lawn, Jr. welcomed our assembled guests and Irish Minister Peter Burke, TD. The Minister warmly greeted our guests and supporters, expressing his appreciation on behalf of the Irish Government. He endorsed the Partnership’s 39-year mission and highlighted the vital work being done to advance education and community development across the island of Ireland.
“I want to really acknowledge the work of the Irish American Partnership. We are truly grateful for all that you do. When you look at the figures in front of us on the table, seeing over 650 interventions in schools and communities, and 650,000 people that are given an opportunity to realize their potential through education.”
“We are truly grateful, as a country, for [the Partnership’s] intervention, and we really appreciate that. A real thank you to everyone who has been part of that incredibly special journey.”
President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, Professor Sir Ian Greer spoke about the university’s mission to shape a better world by opening doors for Northern Irish students to access third level education. The Irish American Partnership proudly supports the widening participation access program at Queen’s University, funding scholarships for students pursuing higher education.
“The Irish American Partnership has been instrumental in supporting our students, supporting social mobility, and opening doors to higher education. You’ve just heard from the Pathway Bursary students about the impact this support has on them, in empowering talented individuals from under-represented backgrounds to pursue their ambitions.”
“I thank you for your unwavering support, for being part of our incredible journey, and for helping us write the next chapter of Queen’s history as we continue to shape a better world.”
The annual breakfast celebration was made possible thanks to our generous sponsors. Our thanks to the Very Reverend William P. Joy, Mary Conroy Henderson, Áine Minogue, and Irish Tenor Patrick Hyland.
We are so grateful to count you among the friends of the Partnership. Thank you for your support which makes our work possible, honoring our heritage by investing in Ireland’s future.
