The Irish government has donated $322,000 (€250,000) in emergency funding to Irish voluntary organizations on the east coast of the US in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
After meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Dublin last week, Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore announced the charitable donation.
Funding will be directed towards relief and reconstruction efforts in Breezy Point Queens, Staten Island and the Jersey Shore where Hurricane Sandy caused massive devastation to communities, including some with deep Irish roots.
The American Ireland Fund has also responded generously to the recent Hurricane Sandy disaster with a gift of $250,000 to assist relief efforts.
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The funds will be split among prominent Irish American community centers including; The New York Irish Centre in Long Island; The Emerald Isle Irish Centre, Queens; The Aisling Irish Centre; The Breezy Point Cooperative Disaster Relief Fund; The Parish of St. Francis De Sales; The FoodBank of Monmouth / Ocean County New Jersey and The Mayor’s Fund.
In the wake of the Irish Government’s donation, Congressional leaders will gather at Embassy of Ireland in DC to show their solidarity for for Sandy victims on Tuesday December 11.
Congressional Friends of Ireland Co-Chairs Rep. Peter King and Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts will be in attendance when Ambassador Michael Collins hosts a special event at the Embassy.
Donations will be accepted on the night for the AIF Washington DC Young Leaders Hurricane Sandy Relief 2012 Fund .
Hurricane Sandy one month on - IrishCentral ask New Yorkers if the US Government is doing enough:
4 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Fightin69th | Dec 11, 2012, 12:15 PM EST
Thanks....Just send the Check, no need to have 20 TD's coming over to present it.
Will Hamilton | Dec 11, 2012, 12:09 PM EST
These gombeen men are driving people into poverty in their own country while overpaying themselves with taxpayers money. In the latest budget they targeted the poorest to pay for the actions of reckless thieving bankers and the Catholic Church. Then over a few drinks melon head donates a quarter of million to a wealthy country on another continent just to satisfy his own vanity.
Searlit | Dec 11, 2012, 11:25 AM EST
I think it's a good thing. You have to help your friends when they are cold and hungry, especially when politics maybe interfering with relief funds in the US.
FastEddy | Dec 11, 2012, 11:06 AM EST
To call this a "donation" is beyond the limits. This is organized theft by and for the Irish government. Your Irish g'ment is not solvent. What possible advantage would there be financially for Irish taxpayers to perform this deed without their permission? ... Other than to sink the Irish g'ment and taxpayers deeper into debt.