LA New Year Celebration : 1.6.07

The West Coast American Ireland Fund kicked off the New Year with a private dinner at The Regency Club in Los Angeles on January 6th, 2007.

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National Board Member, Bart Murphy, hosted the evening to welcome Mr Michael McDowell, Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland) and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and his wife, Professor Niamh Brennan, to LA. The Ministerial party included Agnes and Sean Aylward, Secretary General, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Mary and Noel Conroy, Commissioner, Garda Síochána. Local dignitaries present were Émer Deane, Consul General of Ireland, San Francisco and Úna Fannon, Vice Consul with Carmel and Finbar Hill, Honorary Consul of Ireland, Los Angeles.

AIF Regional Director, Marjorie Muldowney, warmly welcomed everyone and described the wide range of projects currently undertaken by the Fund, particularly programs pertaining to integrated education in Northern Ireland. Bart Murphy talked eloquently about the difference The American Ireland Fund has made in Ireland and gave a great introduction to An Tanaiste. Mr. McDowell demonstrated his marvellous ability to communicate very effectively as he described the strong links that exist between Ireland and the U.S. and thanked everyone for their tremendous support over many years.

Guests included Eileen Moore Murphy (Mrs. Bart Murphy), Peter Culhane and Adrienne Fontanella, Lynn and Ted Leary, Linda and Brian Prinn, Erin and Ryan Kerrigan, and Anne and Jimmy Murphy. Also present were Andrew (AK) and Lori Forthmann, David Price and Charlotte Robinson, Marian and Ted Napier, Michele and Tom Kneafsey, Michele and Conor Shalloe and Margaret Hayhurst. Bob O'Rourke of Caltech was there with his wife Sandy and also Valerie and Harry Hartford, Marian and Niall O'Muilleoir of Financial Dynamics and Annette and Dick Schnell.

The evening wrapped up with glorious musical entertainment by Margaret O'Carroll, accompanied by Celine Kenneally.
Profuse thanks to Bart Murphy for hosting this memorable night!

Photos
1 - Bart Murphy and An Tanaiste, Michael McDowell, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
2 - Sean Aylward, Bart Murphy, An Tanaiste, Finbar Hill, Noel Conroy
3 - Brian Prinn, Ted Leary
4 - Bart and Eileen Murphy
5 - Anne and Jimmy Murphy
6 - Marian and Ted Napier
7 - Spuds and Ann Powell
8 - Erin and Ryan Kerrigan
9 - David Price and Charlotte Robinson
10 - James Campbell and Linda DeMetrick