The Ireland Funds hosted its 32nd National Gala on Wednesday, March 13th, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The record-breaking event was the most successful in the history of the National Gala raising $1.2 million for The Ireland Funds’ philanthropic work in communities across the island of Ireland.
The Gala honored Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) for their distinguished careers in public service and remembered the late Paul Quinn who was instrumental in establishing The Ireland Funds National Gala.
The Honorary Patron of the event, the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, addressed those gathered. “The Ireland Funds translates all the goodwill towards Ireland into tangible action for communities across our island,” said the Taoiseach. “Through your dedication and vision, you’ve raised over $600 million, benefiting more than 3,000 organizations and hundreds of thousands of people north and south. That’s an extraordinary achievement and thank you so much for that. In doing so, you’re helping to fulfil the vision of a peaceful and prosperous Ireland that the Good Friday Agreement made possible by the commitment to these fantastic organizations. The annual tradition of friendship and solidarity is changing lives and helping to build a better future for us all.”
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from Northern Ireland in their first international engagement received a standing ovation upon taking the stage.
Kelly O’Donnell, Senior White House Correspondent for NBC News and President of The White House Correspondents’ Association was Emcee for the event.
Photography by – Tony Powell and Erika Layne
