Boston : AIF honors Mary McAleese, President of Ireland : 5.26.09

THE AMERICAN IRELAND FUND HONORS MARY MCALEESE, PRESIDENT OF IRELAND
32 guests gathered for a private luncheon at the home of
Michele & Howard Kessler in Boston’s Back Bay.

Boston, May 26, 2009 – An intimate group of supporters of The American Ireland Fund gathered for a unique opportunity to hear the President of Ireland Mary McAleese on the occasion of her visit to Boston.  The gathering was one of The American Ireland Fund’s 80 events, and raised funds in support of Irish-American and Irish philanthropic causes.

At the event, The American Ireland Fund Executive Director Steve Greeley welcomed President McAleese who has been a longtime supporter of the non-profit organization’s mission. The President, on a six-day visit to Massachusetts spoke of the recent sectarian violence in Northern Ireland and expressed her hopes that its citizens would continue to reject violence. “We cherish the peace that we have because we know the very, very deep human cost that has been paid for that peace.”

The President then took the opportunity to praise The American Ireland Fund’s ongoing work advancing reconciliation and development across the island of Ireland. 

Those in attendance included, among others,
Irish Ambassador to the US Michael Collins
Robert Reynolds, President & CEO of Putnam Investments
Anne Finucane, President Northeast, Bank of America
Jack Connors of The Connors Family Office
Mike Sheehan, CEO Hill Holliday
John Grady, Managing Director of Athena Capital Advisors LLC
Brian Moynihan, President, Global Wealth & Investment Management, Bank of America
Scott Powers, President & CEO of State Street Global Advisors
Richard Meelia, President and Chairman of Covidien.

The event was hosted at the home of Michele and Howard Kessler of the Kessler Group and the Kessler Family Foundation.

President McAleese was inaugurated as the eighth President of Ireland in 1997 and is the first President to come from Northern Ireland. She has a longstanding interest in many issues concerned with justice, equality, social inclusion, anti-sectarianism and reconciliation. The theme of her Presidency is 'Building Bridges.

For further information:  Steve Greeley at 617.574.0720 or sgreeley@irlfunds.org

photo credit 1, 2 Christopher Bellew  3, Fennell Photography