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American Ireland fund raises over $2.3m in gala success

Irish pull off stunning feat in exclusive Lincoln Center gala

By
APRIL DREW,
IrishCentral.Com Staff Writer

Published Friday, May 8, 2009, 3:34 PM
Updated Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 11:58 AM

 

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Mayor Bloomberg addressed the American Ireland Fund Thursday night

AIF New York Gala Dinner Photos: Click here

The American Ireland Fund pulled off a huge coup last night.

At a time when black tie dinners are falling by the wayside like road kill, the American Ireland Fund New York dinner managed to defy the current recession and raise over $2.3 million, in one of their most successful dinners ever.

At every table at Lincoln Center there was a clear buzz about the size of the crowd and the extraordinary ability of the American Ireland Fund, despite everything, to attract the great and the good of Irish America every year.

Bart Murphy, in from San Francisco had put together a California table for the night—no mean feat. “This event is always tops on our calendar ,” he said "like a gathering of the clan."

“Incredible,” said Ian Hyland of Business and Finance magazine in Ireland as he surveyed the room. “This is the kind of crowd that truly shows the power of the American Ireland Fund.”

How did they do it? “Simple” cracked John Duffy, one of the key fundraisers on the night – “we extended our dinner committee to 66 people.”

Clever move, multiply those 66 by even one table each and you have the ingredients of a great night which it certainly was.

Mayor Mike Bloomberg was there, running for office of course, but he managed to keep things light. He got a huge reception from the Irish crowd which certainly bodes well for him for November.

His likely successor as mayor four years hence, Christine Quinn was working the crowd too. Christine will likely be the first-ever Irish and gay mayor.

There was a dearth of celebrities, but sad memories too, of the same dinner last year when Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson were the star turns.

With the news that Obama will not endorse his Democratic opponent after meeting with Bloomberg yesterday need we state the obvious any further? Michael Bloomberg will be Mayor of New York for four more years. Bet the bank on it – if the bank has any money left.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen was supposed to accept an award but dire economic times kept him in Europe for a European Union summit.

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