PHOTOS - The 16th Irish America magazine Wall Street 50 slideshow

Irish America magazine, the leading glossy publication of Irish interest in North America, celebrated the 16th annual Wall Street 50 issue and honorees. The event, held in New York with the support of Titanic Quarter in Belfast, recognized the best and brightest Irish and Irish-American leaders in finance.

In addition to his fellow honorees, the event honored the outstanding achievements of Keynote Speaker Jim O’Donnell, global head of investor sales and relationship management at Citi. Mr. O’Donnell is responsible for the distribution of global markets products to Citi’s equities, fixed income, currencies and commodities clients.

Irish America was also very honored to welcome First Minister R. Hon Peter D. Robinson, MLA, and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, MLA of Northern Ireland as esteemed special guests.
Citi has led wave of new businesses setting up offices in Belfast’s burgeoning Titanic Quarter, where they now employ 1,200.

PHOTOS - The 16th Irish America magazine Wall Street 50 slideshow

During the awards reception, Founding Publisher Niall O’Dowd presented New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly with a House of Waterford Crystal vase as a sign of appreciation from the New York Irish-American community for all that he has done during his years of service.

Close to 300 guests were welcomed at the awards dinner. Attendees included Wall Street 50 honorees, Irish Ambassador to the U.S. Anne Anderson, Consul General Noel Kilkenny and Hanora Kilkenny, Chairman of the American Ireland Fund John Fitzpatrick, Head of Tourism Ireland North America Alison Metcalfe, Alastair Hamilton, CEO of Invest Northern Ireland, CEO of Titanic Quarter David Gavaghan, Head of the Irish Post Elgin Loane, and singer Andy Cooney, who brought the night to a lively end with a few songs.

Founding Editor-in-Chief Patricia Harty and Founding Publisher Niall O’Dowd presented O’Donnell with a King’s Bowl from the House of Waterford Crystal. The dinner featured remarks from O’Dowd, Harty, David Gavaghan, First Ministers Robinson and McGuinness, and Suni Harford, Citi’s regional head of markets for North America, who introduced O’Donnell before his keynote address.
Patricia Harty said “We salute these women and men as much for their community activism as we do for their financial acumen. These are the leaders who will help shape the culture, history and destinies of our countries in the coming decades.”

The 2013 Wall Street 50 list, published in the October/November issue of Irish America, recognizes an impressive range of honorees and testifies to the Irish diaspora’s continuing legacy of success, from the fourth-generation Irish American honorees (4% of the list) whose ancestors escaped famine Ireland in search of a better life, to the Irish-born honorees (an unprecedented 36% of the list) who are making new waves and re-enforcing the strong bonds between Ireland and America.

he top counties of origin are Cork, Dublin, Galway, Mayo and Tipperary, and the most mentioned colleges and universities include NUI Galway, St. John’s University, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and the University of Pennsylvania.    

Click here to see all of the honorees.

PHOTOS - The 16th Irish America magazine Wall Street 50 slideshow