connect 2018 • 76 AROUND THE WORLD TEXAS September, 2017 The Texas Young Leaders gathered for a forum with Kieran McLoughlin, Worldwide President and CEO of The Ireland Funds. The event took place at the Dallas Fairmont Hotel. Young Leaders and friends discussed the future of the Young Leaders Society. Kieran welcomed everyone and informed them of plans for 2018. He also thanked the group for securing the most runners for the recent Young Leaders’ Global 5K run. Seamus Dooley, Chair of the Texas Young Leaders chapter, led the forum and Board Member of The Ireland Funds America, Kevin Curley, stopped by to welcome the group. September, 2017 The exhibition Ground Zero 360, was created by New York-based Irish photographer Nicola McClean and contains a stunning collection of images taken in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy which were made public for the first time in 2011. The exhibition opened at the Ellen Noël Wagner Art Museum with a private reception on September 10 with the opening to the public following the next day. First respond- ers from the Permian Basin and community members from local cities attended the commemoration ceremony. The night ended with a preview of the exhibit and a talk with the 9/11 families represented in the exhibit. Dolores McCall, Board Director of The Ireland Funds America, was instrumental in getting the exhibit moved to Odessa and was a major donor for the various events. Texas Young Leaders Forum Texas Commemoration of 9/11 at the Ellen Noël Wagner Art Museum 1 1 2 2 3 3 1 Kevin Curley, Marcus Oates, Blaithin Murphy, Leslie McDonough, Kincaid Stringer, Conor Curley, Seamus Dooley, Ginny Edwards, R-Jay Stover, Shelene Connelly, Frank Fox, Meylin Leon, Terra Lahrman, Kieran McLoughlin 2 Kincaid Stringer, Erikah & Seamus Dooley 3 Texas Young Leaders Photos: Can Turkyilmaz 1 Dolores McCall (center) at the Ground Zero 360 Exhibition 2 Objects from 9/11 at the Ground Zero 360 Exhibition 3 Private reception at the Ground Zero 360 Exhibition