One of Ireland’s best-loved supporters and Chairperson of the American Ireland Fund Mrs. Loretta Brennan-Glucksman was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) at its 5th Annual Leadership Lecture tonight.

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Internationally acclaimed for her tireless support of Irish interests at home and abroad, Mrs. Glucksman has played a key role in the development of numerous projects promoting all aspects of Irish life through culture, the arts, education and community involvement.

Third generation Irish-American Mrs. Glucksman was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA, to a family steeped in Irish heritage. Her maternal grandparents immigrated to America from Leitrim where her grandfather worked in the famous Arigna coalmines.

The American Ireland Fund Chairperson began her career as an English teacher at Trenton State School, New Jersey, USA. After a decade in teaching she made a successful career change to broadcasting and Public Relations. In 1975 she joined the newly formed Trenton public broadcasting station where she hosted a highly successful current affairs programme “ the Thursday report” and later served as director of media relations for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

In the early 90s Mrs. Glucksman moved to Ireland with her husband Lewis where in keeping with their life long interest in education they became involved with the newly emerging University of Limerick.

In 1998 they moved to West Cork and took an active interest in University College Cork (UCC) where Lewis is currently the Chairman of the University’s Foundation Board. Mrs. Glucksman continues her promotion of Irish interests in the US through her directorship on the Board of NYU; her establishment of the Glucksman Ireland House, a centre for Irish Studies in New York with her husband Lew and most recently her chairmanship of the American Ireland Fund which has raised in excess of $111 million over the past five years.

Mrs. Glucksman’s commitment to education in Ireland was further strengthened by her appointment as Vice-Chair of the RCSI International Development Board in 2003; which is charged with garnering interest and support for the RCSI’s €90 million Development Plan. The ten-year plan includes the development of the College’s education, research and student facilities. The main components of which include the establishment of a new School of Pharmacy, a National Surgical Training Centre, additional research space for the Institute of Biopharmaceutical Science, investment in information technology and plans for improved student facilities.

Reading the citation for Mrs. Glucksman RCSI Past President Mr. Michael Butler said “One of her many great gifts is to translate America’s unique style of charitable activity to the Irish environment, while at the same time promoting Irish culture in America in a meaningful and accessible way. Her life is busy especially in Ireland. She is a member of the board of the Abbey Theatre, and sits on the board of Trustees of Trinity College. She is on the board of the IDA and is also on the board of governors of New York University to mention just a few.”

Describing her as a highly effective Vice-Chair of the RCSI Development Board Mr. Butler continued, “She has a close and productive relationship with RCSI and recently in the midst of a snow blizzard, not forecast, and which immobilised the city, she hosted a most successful RCSI Development Board meeting in New York,” he added.

In receiving an Honorary Fellowship of the RCSI Mrs Loretta Brennan Glucksman joins a select group of outstanding individuals to have received the College’s highest honour. These include champion of the homeless Rev. Father Peter McVerry; Her Excellency Mary McAleese, President of Ireland; Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela; the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta; His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Bahrain; poet and writer Professor Seamus Heaney.

“At the start of this citation I made the claim that all our non-medical Honorary Fellows are outstanding. Loretta Brennan Glucksman is clearly of the genre and I recommend her to you enthusiastically for the admission as an Honorary Fellow of this College,” Mr. Butler stated.

For more RCSI information please contact:
Louise Loughran : Associate Director of Communications and Events RCSI [01 4022242]
June Shannon : Assistant Communications Officer RCSI [01 4022218]

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Glucksman Gallery >
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Dr. Lew Glucksman >