Philanthropist and former chairman of the American Ireland Fund Loretta Brennan Glucksman received the 2015 Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award in Donegal on Friday. Irish Minister for the Diaspora Jimmy Deenihan presented the award, named in honor of the late Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, during a ceremony in Buncrana.

“Loretta Brennan Glucksman, like Tip O’Neill, has shown herself to be a friend and champion of Ireland in the U.S. Through her leadership of the American Ireland Fund she has made an immense contribution across so many areas on the island of Ireland and has shown herself to be a proud Irish American, giving back so generously to the land of her ancestors,” said Deenihan.

“She has also made an extraordinary contribution to the development of the Ireland-U.S. relationship, working hard to strengthen the strong ties between our two countries, forged as they are on bonds of kinship and of history. I know that she is immensely proud of her Irish roots and she is a truly deserving recipient of this illustrious award."

Brennan Glucksman was also honored in Dublin last Thursday at the inaugural Tiffany Ireland Funds lunch, where she received the Inspiring Woman Award.