Virtual Texas Emerald Gathering 2021
ST. PATRICK’S SEASON CELEBRATION
Sixty friends and supporters logged on to enjoy our Virtual Texas Emerald Ball Gathering on March 11, 2021. The hour-long private event hosted by Texas Director, Darina Padian, included a video highlighting photos from past Texas Emerald Balls; our mission video introducing the Heart of the Community Fund; and two entertainment segments featuring 5-time World Champion Irish Dancing Brothers, The Gardiner Brothers; as well as Irish Tenor, Ronan Tynan, who topped off the evening singing the beloved song “Danny Boy.”
The event was emceed by Davey Devlin, President and CEO, Scapes Inc. and Eddie Geraghty, Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP. Davey and Eddie both emigrated from Ireland in early 2000 and soon became part of The Ireland Funds Young Leaders Society in Dallas. As enthusiastic Young Leaders they wanted to get involved and came up with the original idea to create the Texas Emerald Ball in 2013. Since then, the tradition continues to be one of the social highlights of the St. Patrick’s Day season in North Texas.
The virtual event included Caitriona Fottrell, President & CEO of The Ireland Funds, three Texas-based members Board of Directors, Tom Codd, Kevin Curley and Dolores McCall, and past honorees including Gary Kelly, Chairman and CEO of Southwest Airlines. One of the highlights included a special acknowledgment to Netta Blanchard, original Ireland Funds Texas Director. There were stories shared, jokes told, and memories re-lived and a toast to past and future Texas Emerald Balls.
