On February 5th, members of the New York Dinner Committee and friends of the Fund gathered to kick-off the 33rd Annual May Dinner Gala at The Metropolitan Club. This year’s Dinner Committee is the largest ever with 66 members 13 of whom are Irish based. The Campaign is off to a great start and the Committee hopes to make this year’s dinner one of the most successful yet.

Following their first meeting, the Dinner Committee joined the other guests for a cocktail reception. AIF President, Kieran McLoughlin talked about the importance of this year’s dinner which has been titled “New Island New Generation. He announced that proceeds will be used to support a very special project, PeacePlayers International. PeacePlayers connects Catholic and Protestant children in Northern Ireland through the great American sport of Basketball. In Northern Ireland the sport a child plays, even the team they support, can indicate the side of the community from which they come.  Thus, sport can be a source of division and mistrust.  However, because neither side owns basketball, it can be engaged and embraced by all.

Guests then heard from Dinner Co-Chairs Kip Condron and Bob McCann.  They spoke of the great work the Fund has done across Ireland for those unaffected by the Celtic Tiger. They announced that Liam Neeson will be accepting The Performing Arts Award and that the Humanitarian Award would be made posthumously to Lew Glucksman in recognition of his extraordinary generosity to Ireland. AIF Chairman, Loretta Brennan Glucksman told guests that her late husband, Lew, adored Ireland and her people and expressed her appreciation of Lew being credited for all the good work he has done for the country he loved.  

Kip Condron then introduced Keltic Dreams, a young group of Irish step dancers from an area of the Bronx with a poverty level of 95%. Lead by Irish dance teacher, Caroline Duggan, they have used Irish culture to broaden their horizons and self belief. With The AIF’s help, they toured Ireland last year and performed for President Mary McAleese.

Photo Index

1 - Loretta Brennan Glucksman
2 - Keltic Dreams
3 - Guests enjoying the performance
4 - Kieran McLoughlin, Bob McCann, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Kip Condron
5 - Kip Condron, Bob McCann
6 - Musical Entertainment
7 - Paul Geaney, Pat Tully
8 - Martin Kehoe, Sarah McLoughlin
9 - Guests enjoying dinner
10 - Dinner Committee Meeting
11 - Rob Fox, Kaitlyn Cafferky, Shelagh Montgomery
12 - Angus Miller, Ian Hyland
13 - Brendan O Caoilli, Matthew McBride, Carmel O Caoilli
14 - Tom O'Neill, Ed McMahon, Bill Booker
15 - Leslie Morrison, Len O'Hagan
16 - Brendan Tuohey, Damian DeSola
17 - Dan Williams, Ken Gorman, Sheila O'Malley
18 - Anthony Callaghan, Mike McGrath