The top 25 who made a difference - celebrating the Irish Voice’s 25th Anniversary

Publisher Niall O’Dowd honors people who contributed to the Irish American community

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Celebrating 25-years of the Irish Voice

Photo by Irish Voice

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Founder of Irish American Democrats, the Washington-based O’Leary has played a huge role in creating an Irish dimension for Democratic Party politics and is a very successful fundraiser for Irish American candidates. Personally very close to both Clintons, O’Leary single-handedly put together the Clinton Center in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

CHARLOTTE MOORE
CIARAN O’REILLY

Irish Repertory Theater founders Charlotte Moore and Ciaran O’Reilly are dynamos, bringing the very best of Irish theater to New York City on a year-round basis at their Chelsea headquarters.
The Irish Rep opened in September 1988 with a production of The Plough and The Stars.  The Wall Street Journal’s Terry Teachout wrote that the Irish Rep is “one of the finest theater companies in America.”

TOM MORAN

One of the great philanthropists and business leaders in the Irish American community. Moran is CEO and president of Mutual of America and Chairman of Concern Worldwide.  Moran has played a massive role in increasing knowledge about the dire crisis in the Third World through his role at Concern, and he also played an outstanding role in providing access to the U.S. for Northern Irish political leaders.

PAT DONAGHY

Founder of Structure Tone, one of New York’s great construction success stories which is now a worldwide company.  Tyrone-born Donaghy has also played a leading role in the U.S. part in the Irish peace process. He is a committed support of Sinn Fein and annually hosts a major dinner for Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams. Donaghy also strongly supported immigration reform groups and has employed Irish numbering in the thousands.

CHUCK FEENEY

The “secret billionaire” who gave all his billions away remains one of the most admired people in America and a runner up for Time magazine’s Man of the Year in 2000.
With roots in Fermanagh, the New Jersey-born Feeney has given back in spades to Ireland investing hundreds of millions through his Atlantic Philanthropies. He also played a key role in U.S. involvement in the Irish peace process, and was a key player in allowing Sinn Fein to set up an office in Washington, D.C., one of the conditions for an IRA ceasefire.

BILL FLYNN

Flynn is chairman emeritus of Mutual of America insurance company and a highly successful businessman. He was a key mover in focusing Irish Americans on peace in Northern Ireland.
Through his organization, the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, he provided the forum for Gerry Adams and many other speakers to appear before American audiences for the first time. He was one of the first to see an opportunity for U.S. intervention, and he was responsible for the invitation that allowed Adams to come to the U.S. in 1994.

SEAN MINIHANE
PAT HURLEY
Minihane and Hurley were co-founders of the Irish Immigration Reform Movement in the 1980s, which won legislation to legalize tens of thousands of Irish citizens.  The Cork natives succeeded in winning the Donnelly and Morrison visa programs in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Minihane and Hurley galvanized a huge swathe of Irish America to help in their cause and set the stage for the Irish American political clout that followed on Northern Ireland.

CONGRESSMAN PETER KING

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