The American Ireland Fund honored Martin McGuinn at the 2001 Pittsburgh Gala Dinner.

As Chairman and CEO of Mellon Financial Corporation, McGuinn has been part of the Pittsburgh business community for many years.

Just ten days after the tragedies of September 11, The American Ireland Fund needed to balance the sense of grieving shared by those in attendance, with the desire to move on and celebrate its achievements in their founding city. "The tone of the event created a terrific balance," said McGuinn. "Ireland has been dealing with that delicate balance for a long time."

The efforts of Sir Anthony O'Reilly and Dan Rooney have made The American Ireland Fund a tremendously visible monument of philanthropy in the Pittsburgh business community over the past twenty-five years. "I've been impressed that The Ireland Funds really originated in Pittsburgh, under the leadership of Tony O'Reilly and Dan Rooney, and of course, having that Irish heritage, it made me interested." While McGuinn has been supporting Ireland Funds' events for the past seven years, he decided he could provide more practical help, and accepted an invitation to visit Ireland with The Funds in July of 2001.

"I knew The Ireland Funds from a Pittsburgh perspective, but visiting this summer was a hands-on and immediate viewpoint which gave me a much more specific understanding," he said. "Seeing first hand what The Funds are doing convinced me to do more."

Seeing first hand what The Funds are doing convinced me to do more." - Marty McGuinn

Mr. McGuinn is no stranger to Ireland. While he often visits Mellon's Dublin offices, this was not a business trip, but rather an exploration of the varied possibilities to provide aid to the communities supported by and serving his corporation.

"I want to represent our company in the various communities where we are located, but also I am personally interested in making contributions of time and money and advice to help both the corporation and myself. We feel very strongly about supporting the communities in which we live and work. The health of our community impacts the health of our company."

Ireland, and particularly its capital, Dublin, has received wide recognition for its booming economy, coined the "Celtic Tiger". Unfortunately, not everyone has the foundation necessary to reap these economic benefits. "There has been a great disparity, I think, between those who have been successful and those who have not been," McGuinn deduced. "I think the economic success, particularly in the Republic of Ireland, has not lessened the need for The Ireland Funds, but in fact in many ways increased it."

Acknowledging this disparity, McGuinn chose St. Vincent's Trust as one of The Ireland Funds' projects he would support. Established in 1976, St. Vincent's Trust is located in an area of Dublin overwhelmed by high unemployment and economic deprivation. St. Vincent's provides area youths with the vocational training necessary to participate in Ireland's new economy.

"St. Vincent's Trust is such a contrast to the rest of Dublin, where you see all the excitement and vitality. Here in this inner city portion of northern Dublin, you realize there are many disadvantaged people," McGuinn said. "To see that St. Vincent's is taking care of the disadvantaged children, particularly teenagers, and not only providing them with an education, but giving them practical training, and even day-care to take care of the children in some cases, showed that The Ireland Funds' support is really making a difference."

Marty and his wife, Ann, also traveled to Belfast, an unfamiliar city known only to them through its portrayal in the global media. "We wanted to support projects in both the Republic and in Northern Ireland. I was especially impressed in Belfast that the pockets of the troubles are somewhat limited, though very deep. But what I saw at least provided hope for the future."

The future of a peaceful Belfast is dependent upon communication, acceptance and a mutual understanding of the city's turbulent past. There is a beacon of hope and leadership for the future of reconciliation between children from both religious traditions, and that is Hazelwood Integrated College. Hazelwood is a second level integrated school serving 700 students aged 11-18 from both communities in North Belfast.

"Hazelwood College was impressive in terms of what they've been able to accomplish in a couple of years- providing a facility for secondary education. But beyond the physical facility, the kinds of education they're able to provide, particularly on an integrated basis, is what was most impressive," McGuinn said after meeting with teachers and students.

"When you think about how the people in Northern Ireland need to learn to live together, if they can have an integrated education, not only learning together, but playing together, then it will help them to be able to live together in the future. That is the kind of foundation that will ultimately bring together a peaceful co-existence."

As with many of the social programs in Ireland, too many are oversubscribed. Marty's hope is that continued support from Mellon Financial Corporation, as well as the ever-widening support from the network of American businesses affiliated with The Ireland Funds, can afford every person in Ireland the needed opportunities to overcome whatever diverse obstacle stands in their way. From reconciliation in Northern Ireland, to vocational training in North- side Dublin, a practical approach to empower the citizens is imperative, as political leaders work for a peaceful and strong island.

In one sense, Ireland is a microcosm of what's happening in so many parts of the world, whether it's in the Middle East or elsewhere. "We really yearn for a lasting peace. But what I think is very special is that The Ireland Funds are supporting the peace process, but in very practical ways," he said. "It's not supporting one side over the other, or just the south or the north. But it's also supporting cultural opportunities, social services, education, all the things that I really think have to be supported if there is to be a very successful and a peaceful country."

In the early 1900's, McGuinn's grandparents emigrated from county Mayo seeking greater opportunity in the United States. As a child, riding the trolleys of Philadelphia where his grandfather worked as a conductor, provide some of his fondest memories. His relationship with his grandfather instilled the importance of his Irish heritage from a young age. During last summer's tour of Ireland, the McGuinns were able to further trace their genealogy at Trinity College.

"My great-grandfather had once been listed as a lunatic. My first reaction was, 'It must be wrong'. As I talked to older members of my family, they blamed the authorities for trying to put away any of the Irish who were more interested in personal freedoms,"  McGuinn paused. "But I guess I'll just accept it as a source of our family genius."

Whether meeting at Mellon's offices in Dublin, tracing his genealogy, or visiting The Ireland Funds sites he has chosen to support, Marty McGuinn will never feel a stranger to the land. "Involvement starts with the heritage, and a continued interest in what is going on there and trying to help," he said. "There is an indescribable affinity to Ireland that is a little like going home."

This article first appeared in Connections Winter 2002 issue