CLARE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER Takes Place in IN NEW YORK

Lightholler

The Mayor of Clare Cllr. Flan Garvey and Tony Killeen, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment joined famed US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald as guests of honour at the 118th Clare Association annual dinner in Long Island, New York last weekend. The event was marked with Fitzgerald being named as ‘Clareman of the Year’ and Kilmurry McMahon native Michael McMahon receiving the prestigious ‘Clare Association Presidential Award’.

Clare Association President and Miltown Malbay native, PJ O’Loughlin described Minister Killeen and Mayor Garvey’s presence at the dinner as ‘a great honour for the Association’. He added, “The Association’s many members are privileged to have Clare’s first citizen and a Government Minister in attendance at this year’s dinner. I met Mayor Garvey in Inagh during the summer and was delighted that he accepted my invitation to attend the event. Likewise, the Association is honoured by Minister Killeen’s presence on behalf of the Irish Government.”

Mr. O’Loughlin also paid tribute to Illinois-based Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald Jr. whose parents come from Kilmaley and Feakle in County Clare. Fitzgerald made international news headlines recently as the special prosecutor investigating the Valerie Plame C.I.A. leak. His investigation of the leaked information that Plame – a renowned critic of the war in Iraq - was a C.I.A. operative reached into the highest levels of the White House and led to the resignation of Scooter Libby, Vice-President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff. Ms. Libby currently faces charges in relation to an alleged cover up of the leak. Announcing Fitzgerald as ‘Clareman of the Year’, PJ O’Loughlin said, “We admire and respect Patrick for his work. We are proud to claim him as one of our own, and to add the name Patrick J. Fitzgerald. Jr. to our honour roll this year”.

The Clare Association annual dinner culminated with the awarding of the prestigious Presidential Award to Kilmurry McMahon-native Michael McMahon ‘for his dedicated and outstanding service of 58 years’ to the Clare community in New York. Now 80 years of age, Mr McMahon immigrated to New York in 1947 where he became a longshoreman with the New York Shipping Association until his retirement in 1989. Michael – a member of the Doonbeg Social Club - is credited as the founder of the Clare Football club of New York in 1952, when the Clare team was affiliated into the ranks of the local GAA Junior Football Division. At the time, he played junior football with St. Jerome’s and senior football with New York-Kilkenny. He joined the then Clare Men’s Association on November 7th, 1948, and is now the longest-serving active member of the Clare Association holding the position of Association Historian.

According to Mayor of Clare Cllr. Flan Garvey, “Michael McMahon’s life story symbolises the great community spirit that exists among Clare natives here in New York. Through the support of his fellow county men and women, he found employment upon arriving in New York and soon became involved in social and sporting organisations. Michael has, in turn, helped other immigrants from County Clare in establishing themselves in New York. The Clare experience in New York reflects all that is good about community spirit and proves that such co-operation and mutual respect has the power to reach beyond parish and county boundaries.”

Mayor Garvey attended the Clare Association annual dinner as part of a U.S. sponsorship drive by Clare County Council aimed at bridging an estimated €3 million funding shortfall in the €31.45m project at the Cliffs of Moher. Mayor Garvey is joined on the trip by Clare County Manager, Alec Fleming and Ger Dollard, Project Leader for 'Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience' team. The Council delegation is currently engaged in talks with a number of potential U.S. donors who are believed to be prominent members of the Irish-American community and business sectors in New York, Chicago and Phoenix.

Speaking at the Clare Association annual dinner, County Manager Alec Fleming stated, “Many of those in attendance at the annual dinner were hugely interested in hearing about the new Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre. This interest typifies the desire of Irish people in the US to keep in touch with news from home. It also serves to reaffirm the centuries-old links that exist between parishes all over the Banner County and the thriving Clare community in New York.”