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EIIC Dinner Dance 2007Emerald Isle Immigration Center hosted their View Photo Highlights of the 20th Annual EIIC Dinner Dance View more celebration photos in our
Close to 500 were in attendance as the honorees Catherine Nolan, Assemblywoman, 37th District, Queens, John E. Greaney, President & Business Manager, Local 608 Carpenter’s Union and Mae O’Driscoll, Community Leader, IIRM and EIIC Co-founder and EIIC Secretary and Trustee were all presented with awards from the Center, In additional Mae O'Driscoll was presented with a plaque announcing details of a scholarship in her name. The event was co-chaired by Lisa Johnston and Noreen O'Donoghue from the EIIC's Executive Committee of the Board. MC for the night was EIIC Chair Brian O'Dwyer.
In attendance and seated on the VIP Dias with the 2007 honorees were Congressman Joseph Crowley, Guillermo Linares, Commissioner from the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, NY City Council member for the 20th District John Liu, Irish Vice Counsel, Alan Farrelly, IIRM Co-Founder and Chairman of the Irish Immigration Reform Movement Sean Minihane, County Cork B P& P President Daniel McCarthy, and United Irish Counties President Michael Fogarty. Music was provided by Tommy Flynn and the New York Showband. Door raffle prizes were provided by the upcoming production of the Seafarer on Broadway by Conor McPherson. A grand door prize was kindly provided by Tourism Ireland and won by John Greaney whose wife gladly accepted the prize of a trip for two with car rental and five night B&B accommodation.
EMERALD ISLE IMMIGRATION CENTER'S
Catherine T. Nolan Catherine Nolan represents the 37th Assembly District in Queens County, which includes the historic New York City neighborhoods of Sunnyside, Ridgewood, Long Island City, Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Astoria, Woodside, Maspeth, Dutch Kills and Blissville. She was first elected to the Assembly in 1984. A resident of the district for most of her life, she is a graduate of St. Aloysius R.C. School and Grover Cleveland High School. Ms. Nolan graduated from New York University cum laude with a B.A. degree in Political Science. Speaker Sheldon Silver appointed Ms. Nolan to Chair the Assembly's Committee on Education in 2006. She has spearheaded efforts to achieve class size reduction, universal pre-k, middle school initiatives, improve high school graduation rates and other measures that will ultimately mean success for the more than three million school children in New York State. As a parent of a public school student, Assemblywoman Nolan will bring a parent's perspective to ongoing education debates. She lives with her husband, Gerard Marsicano, and son Nicholas on Grove Street in Ridgewood.
John E. Greaney was born to parents Mary Kate (nee O'Brien) Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland and Mossie Greaney (deceased), New York. He attended Our Lady of Mercy and Our Lady of Angels Grammar Schools in the Bronx graduating from Cardinal Hayes High School and attending Cornell School of Labor Studies. Joining Local 608, John started his work in the field on the Manhattan Towers project with dedication to his craft, his commitment to fellow workers, and tireless devotion for the betterment of the working carpenter, he rose through the ranks to become foreman, superintendent, Local Union conductor, Vice President, Business Representative and currently President and Business Manager of Carpenters Local Union 608, the largest Local in the United States. John is also a trustee for the New York City District Council of Carpenters Pension and Welfare funds, and was also an Instructor at the Carpenters Technical College teaching basic carpentry skills to apprentices. John currently resides in Westchester County, but his heart will always be in the Bronx.
Mae O'Driscoll was born in Lisheen, Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland. She was educated at the local National School and the Convent of Mercy in Skibbereen. She continued her education at Brooklyn College where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. Mae recently retired from J. P. Morgan & Co. where she was an Assistant Vice President. Mae has been active in the Irish American community since her arrival in New York. She is a dedicated member of the Co. Cork Association and has the distinction of being the first woman to serve as President of the Association. In the 1980s when thousands of undocumented Irish immigrants flocked to our shores and in response to the crisis situation facing these immigrants, the Irish Immigration Reform Movement (IIRM) was founded at the Cork Association meeting in May 1987. Mae is a charter member and served as Chairperson of the New York State Branch. The IIRM successfully lobbied for comprehensive immigration reform. As a result of their dedicated efforts the “Immigration Act of 1990” was passed into law providing thousands of visas for the Irish through the “Morrison Visa” program. Mae is also a founding member of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, a fully staffed Immigrant Advice Center, with offices in Woodside, Queens and Woodlawn, New York. She continues to serve the Irish immigrant community in her work as Director and Trustee of the EIIC. She is also a Director of the United Irish Counties Association. Mae resides in Brooklyn and is a member of Good Shepherd Parish.
Our EIIC Dinner Dance 2006Emerald Isle Immigration Center 2006 Honorees
Mr. James P. MahoneyJames Mahoney is a native New Yorker born on Manhattan's east side in the Yorkville section in December 1962. Union Labor has run deep in the Mahoney blood line. Jim is the son of the late John (Cy) Mahoney (born Simon O'Mahony, Cork City). His mother the late Patricia Cosgrove Mahoney hails from a family that has accrued over 100 years of service in Steamfitters Local 638. His brothers; John has been an official with both Teamsters Local 808 and RWDSU Local 29 (retired) and Edward a high ranking official in the NYPD Patrolman's Benevolent Association (retired) for over 20 years. In 1982 James began his career in the Ornamental Ironworkers Local 580, working at all phases of the Industry, journeyman, steward and foreman. In 1993 he was elected to the position of Recording Secretary, in 1996 at the young age of 33 he was elected as Business Agent for the Brooklyn/Queens area and in 1999 he was elected to the Manhattan Business Agent position which he still holds. Jim has made his name in the labor industry as a smart, honest union rep with an aggressive position for fighting for the rights and well being of his members. In addition to his duties as Business Agent James is a delegate to the New York Central Labor Council, New York City Building and Construction Trades. James has been the recipient of many honors including the 2001 Cork Man of the Year Award from the Co Cork Association and he was selected as the Grand Marshal of the Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2005. The Honorable Christine C. QuinnSince entering the New York City Council in 1999, Christine Quinn has been a leader for more comprehensive health care, equal rights for all New Yorkers, rational rezoning, better schools and tenants' rights. Christine Quinn represents the 3rd Council District that encompasses Chelsea, the West Village, Clinton/Hell's Kitchen, and parts of Soho and Murray Hill. On January 4, 2006, Christine was overwhelmingly elected Speaker of the City Council. She is the first woman, openly gay or Irish Speaker of the City Council. As Chair of the Health Committee, Christine has consistently worked to provide quality and affordable health care to all New Yorkers. Councilmember Quinn has been a champion for equal rights for all New Yorkers. She has also successfully advocated for rational rezoning that balances the goals of developers and the needs of neighborhoods. Councilmember Quinn led the fight to stop the West Side Stadium from being built. Since her election in 1999, she has been a tireless advocate for the rights and dignity of all workers. She has championed labor issues such as the Living Wage Legislation and fair treatment of all City employees. She has also been a vocal advocate for the improvement of public education, expanding computer labs in schools, renovating school playgrounds and buildings. Christine has been rated one of the fifty most powerful women in New York City by the New York Post and one of the 'Forty Under Forty' by Gotham Magazine.
Mr. James A. LombardJames A. Lombard, a native Bronxite, is a first generation Irish American of Mayo and Cork lineage. He served two years active duty as Sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corp, Sixth Marine Division. A former bank officer, James began his public service career in 1976 when he joined the staff of the late Honorable Paul O'Dwyer, City Council President, where he held the position of First Assistant to the President. He subsequently served in the City Council for 25 years under the leadership of the late Majority Leader Thomas J. Cuite and Speaker Peter F. Vallone and Gifford Miller. In October 2002, Jim retired from his position as Director, Administrative Services Division. Mr. Lombard has actively participated in charitable, civic and community affairs in particular, the Irish American Community. He has been a member of the Mayo Society for more than 35 years diligently serving in various elected offices including that of President. Jim currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Emerald isle Immigration Center and is Chairman of the Board of the Irish Institute, Inc. He is also an active member of the Knights of St. Patrick. He is a member of many other organizations including the Co. Cork Association, Divison 3, A.O.H., New York County and the American Irish Teachers Association. Mr. Lombard is the recipient of numerous awards and honors in recognition of his services and dedication to the Irish Community including Mayo Man of the Year, the Bronx Irish Man the Year Award and the Paul O'Dwyer Memorial Award at the Brooklyn Great Irish Fair.
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