Executive director of the New York Irish Center in Long Island City, Liz Kenny started out as a hairdresser. A recipient of a Morrison visa in the 1990s, Kenny has been living in New York for 21 years.

Born in Edgeworthstown, County Longford, where her parents still live, Kenny had a variety of jobs in the U.S., from hotel administrator to recruitment agent, before landing an important role at the Irish Center, which serves both new and older Irish arrivals.

"Finally in 2006 I joined the center full time and I have never looked back. It is an extremely challenging role and there is so much going on, but the center is always evolving and the needs of the people that come here are being met, and that is very important," said Kenny.

Kenny tries to go home once or twice a year, and says that her heritage is hugely important to her.

“It’s who I am, and it’s what I do,” she says.

 

 

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