San Francisco Dinner : 3.7.08

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On Friday March 7th, The San Francisco American Ireland Fund Gala Dinner was held at The St. Francis Hotel. A large group came together to celebrate with this year's honorees, Pauline and John Ryan. The Ryans were the recipients of the Distinguished Leadership Award and were joined by family and friends from far and wide. Kingsley Aikins, President of The Ireland Funds and Kieran McLoughlin, President of The American Ireland Fund, flew in for the celebration. The dinner was chaired by longtime supporter and national Board Director, Jon Folan. Jon was joined by his fellow Board Directors, Bart Murphy, Craig Sullivan and Bill Walsh.

The Irish government was represented by Minister Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher and Consul-General, Emer Deane. Also present were Marjorie Muldowney, West Coast Development Director of The American Ireland Fund along with Dinner Committee members Tara Arnold, John Hartnett, Tim Lucey, Nola Masterson, Maura Morey, Brian Mullins, Ray O' Flaherty, Kathleen Ryan and Helen Wilmot. Fellow Committee Members Patrick Meade of Bonhams & Butterfields and Gaby Jackson Renstrom played very important parts in the evening, as Auctioneer and Mistress of Ceremonies respectively. There was strong support from John McIntyre and David Smith of Enterprise Ireland, Dermot Tuohy from IDA Ireland, Gary Hanley of Invest Northern Ireland, Tom Heneghan of Tourism Ireland and Tom McFadden of Aer Lingus.

The Ryan family included Katrina and Bill Jeffers, Chris Ryan and Amy Penfield and Fiona Ryan and Torrey Rothstein. They were joined by John Hegarty, the Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Don Barry, the President of University of Limerick and Iognaid O' Muircheartaigh, President Emeritus of University College Galway. Also present were Fred Ambroseo of Macrovision, Don McGrath of Bank of the West, Sally Ann Flood of Deloitte, Nancy & Bill Murphy, Kevin and Sonja O' Brien, Ann & Kevin Ryan, and Frank Sinnott.

Entertainment was provided by The Three Irish Tenors who came from Dublin and the evening wrapped up with everyone's favorite, David Martin's House Party who rocked the room!

John Ryan was born and raised in Tipperary and Pauline comes from Leeds, England. John is co-founder and Chairman of Macrovision Corporation and Pauline is on the National Board of The American Ireland Fund. Both are deeply involved in supporting educational, cultural and community projects throughout Ireland.

Photo Index

1 - John & Pauline Ryan, 2008 Distinguished Leadership Award recipients
2 - AIF National Board Directors Bart Murphy, John Ryan, Jon Folan, Pauline Ryan, Bill Walsh and Craig Sullivan
3 - Dinner Committee members Bart Murphy, Kathleen Ryan, Tim Lucey, Marjorie Muldowney, John Hartnett (Back row)
Gaby Jackson Renstrom, Nola Masterson, Tara Arnold (Front row)
4 - David Owen, Consul-General Emer Deane, Minister Pat The Cope Gallagher and Mrs. Gallagher
5 - Bill & Katrina Jeffers, John & Pauline Ryan, Chris Ryan, Amy Penfield, Fiona Ryan, Torrey Rothstein
6 - Table Setting
7 - The Folan Family
8 - Kevin Ryan, Bill Walsh, John Hegarty, Provost of Trinity College Dublin
9 - Moore School of Irish Dance
10 - John & Pauline Ryan, Kingsley Aikins, Jon Folan
11 - Craig & Maureen Sullivan
12 - Helen Wilmot, guests, Greg Davidson
13 - Sonja & Kevin O'Brien, John Ryan
14 - Bill & Katrina Keffers
15 - Fiona Ryan, Torrey Rothstein
16 - Nola Masterson & Bruce Jennett
17 - It's A long Way to Tipperary! The Three Irish Tenors with John & Pauline Ryan
18 - The Three Irish Tenors with Louise Crawford, Invest Northern Ireland
19 - Dancing the night away!