On Wednesday November 6th 2024, over 500 friends of Ireland gathered to celebrate The Ireland Funds 40th Annual Chicago Dinner Gala.
Dinner Chairman Terry Brady, and Co-Chair Devon Bruce along with dinner committee members ensured that it was a successful and fun evening.
Áine Mallaghan, Vice President of The Ireland Funds America, Midwest, welcomed the guests and led a special moment of remembrance for Sir Anthony “Tony” O’Reilly, who passed away earlier in 2024. Tony, along with Dan Rooney, co-founded The Ireland Funds almost 50 years ago with their vision, determination and generosity. The Ireland Funds has raised over $650m to assist thousands of charitable causes across the island of Ireland and around the world. Áine also paid a special tribute to the founders of The Ireland Funds Chicago chapter, who 40 years ago came together under the guidance of Dan Rooney and Tony O’Reilly to establish this as the third Ireland Funds chapter in the US.
Dan Quirke, founder of the Dillion Quirke Foundation in Ireland spoke about the mission of his organization to provide free cardiac screening for athletes playing sports in Ireland. Dan’s son Dillion, passed away from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome in 2022 while playing hurling for his local club at the age of 24. The Foundation aims to screen 10,000 young people a year.
Special performance for the evening was provided by viral You Tube sensations, The Gardiner Brothers. The US born brothers, who now live in Ireland, danced, tapped and jumped their way through a high energy dance routine concluding with a Chicago Cubs v Chicago White Sox dance off.
Terry Brady, Chairman of The Ireland Funds Chicago Regional Advisory Committee, presented Steve Cahillane, Chairman, President and CEO of Kellanova with The Ireland Funds Distinguished Leadership Award. Mr Cahillane spoke of his pride of his Irish ancestry and how that ancestry shaped him and his career.
‘’I am deeply honored to accept this Ireland Funds award. As a proud New Yorker, naturalized Chicagoan, and a son of Irish heritage, this moment is truly humbling. I accept, not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of my parents and the countless generations who laid the foundation for all of us here tonight.’’
John Gibbons, committee member of The Ireland Funds Chicago Regional Advisory Committee presented Fr. Tom Hurley, VP of Advancement and Ministry at Marist High School Chicago, with The Ireland Funds Humanitarian Award. Fr. Tom spoke about his journey and his family.
“How grateful I am to be Irish-American. I am even more proud and excited to be affiliated with The Ireland Funds, a great organization transforming lives in Ireland and around the globe”
Special thanks to The Kerry Group and Chicago Cut Steakhouse for their very generous support of the auction at the dinner
Photographer: Ana Miyares
Steve Cahillane, Chairman, President & CEO of Kellanova, received The Ireland Funds Distinguished Leadership Award.
Fr. Thomas Hurley, VP of Advancement and Ministry at Marist High School Chicago received The Ireland Funds Humanitarian Award.
Dan Quirke, founder of the Dillon Quirke Foundation spoke about the mission of his organization to provide free cardiac screening for athletes playing sports in Ireland.
