PHOTOS: From venture triumphs to trading wins at the IrishCentral Finance Awards 2026

The inaugural IrishCentral Finance Awards brought senior executives and rising talent together for an evening of celebration, speeches, and high-value networking in the heart of Manhattan. The ceremony honored eight winners across banking, venture capital, trading, academia, and client services and closed with a clear message to keep building transatlantic connections.

Guests arrived beneath the ornate Gilded Age interiors of the American Irish Historical Society on Fifth Avenue and were joined by an impressive roll call of financial elites, judges, and industry leaders who packed the museum-mile townhouse for the awards and reception. The venue’s Beaux Arts grandeur provided a suitably historic backdrop for an evening celebrating modern Irish finance on an international stage.

"IrishCentral would like to thank Wayflyer and Elkstone for their generous sponsorship and support of the event," Dara Healey, the event's coordinator and Brand Partnership Manager at IrishCentral, said, reflecting on the successful inaugural event.  

"We also greatly appreciate the presence of Consul General Gerald Angley for opening the evening and highlighting Ireland’s lasting contribution to America and the positive impact of the Irish-American community.

"A special thank you as well to the Enterprise Ireland team, including Aidan McKenna and Kevin Ryan, for their continued support.

"Finally, we’re very grateful to our honorees and participants, including Madeline Hemingway and Keelin McCool, whose work and leadership helped make the evening such a success."

Here are the winners of the IrishCentral Financial Awards and some highlights:

Alan Merriman - Elkstone 

Contribution to Irish Venture Capital Award

Alan Merriman of Elkstone, winner of the Contribution to Irish Venture Capital Award with the Chair of IrishCentral, Liam Lynch.

Alan Merriman received the Contribution to Irish Venture Capital award. He founded Elkstone in 2011 and built one of Ireland’s largest early-stage venture portfolios with more than 70 companies and over €1 billion in follow-on funding. Merriman is known for early bets on Irish success stories and for advocacy to attract private capital into Ireland’s scaling businesses.

AI One

Irish American Venture Company of the Year Award

AI One's founders Fergus Keenan and Conor Twomey, winner of the Irish American Venture Company of the Year Award with the Chair of IrishCentral, Liam Lynch.

Founded by Conor Twomey and Fergus Keenan, AI One builds enterprise software that helps large companies operationalize artificial intelligence across fragmented data systems. The firm’s New York base and product focus have positioned it as a bridge between Irish engineering talent and U.S. enterprise clients.

Sean Murray - Barclays US Consumer Bank

Banking Leader Award

Sean Murray of Barclays US Consumer Bank, winner of the Banking Leader Award with the Chair of IrishCentral, Liam Lynch.

Sean Murray won the Banking Leader for his work as Chief Product and Digital Officer at Barclays US Consumer Bank. Murray leads product modernization, digital customer experiences, and the bank’s Innovation Lab, drawing on prior leadership at Citi and JPMorgan. His career highlights include building digital platforms and mentoring fintech partnerships.

Angus Miller - Merrill Lynch 

Excellence in Client Service Award

Angus Miller of Merrill Lynch, winner of the Excellence in Client Service Award with the Chair of IrishCentral, Liam Lynch.

Angus Miller earned Excellence in Client Services after a 27-year career advising entrepreneurs, executives, and nonprofits. He moved to Merrill Lynch in 2025 from UBS and delivers tailored wealth, estate, and philanthropic strategies for global clients. Miller is active on charity boards and within the Ireland-US Council for Commerce and Industry.

Professor Andrew Burke - Trinity Business School

Contribution to Irish Finance Academia Award

Professor Andrew Burke of Trinity Business School, winner of the Contribution to Irish Finance Academia Award with Chair of IrishCentral, Liam Lynch.

Professor Andrew Burke received the Contribution to Irish Finance Academia award for his leadership at Trinity Business School, where he oversaw a major expansion and secured Triple Accreditation. Burke’s academic career spans appointments across the U.K. and visiting roles in the U.S., and he has driven strategies linking education to entrepreneurship.

Harry Donnelly - Circuit

Rising Star Award

Harry Donnelly of Circuit, winner of the Rising Star Award with Chair of IrishCentral, Liam Lynch.

Harry Donnelly was named Rising Star. The MIT-trained founder of Circuit moved from institutional trading roles to build a digital-asset recovery platform and has become a prominent voice in crypto infrastructure. Donnelly’s work focuses on institutional-grade security and operational resilience for digital assets.

Darragh O Flaherty - Blue Owl Capital

Dealmaker of the Year Award

Darragh O Flaherty of Blue Owl Capital, winner of the Dealmaker of the Year Award with Chair of IrishCentral, Liam Lynch.

Darragh O Flaherty was Dealmaker of the Year for leading complex technology and healthcare IT transactions at Blue Owl Capital. He brings a cross-structure approach to financing and has a history that includes Guggenheim Partners and Allied Irish Banks. O Flaherty is active in Irish American finance, philanthropy, and investment committees.

Kathryn Spain - Berenberg Capital Markets

Trader of the Year Award

Kathryn Spain of Berenberg Capital Markets, winner of Trader of the Year Award with Chair of IrishCentral, Liam Lynch.

Kathryn Spain won Trader of the Year after more than two decades in institutional equity sales across Credit Suisse, Investec, and Berenberg. Spain has consistently ranked highly in market-share and stock-picking rankings and is prized for its client relationships with major North American institutions.

Here are some more photos from the IrishCentral Financial Awards 2026:

All photos by Darragh Meaney.