Irish Arts Center shattered its previous fundraising record at the 26th annual Spirit of Ireland Gala, raising $3.7 million to support a bold Phase Two expansion and year-round programming in New York. The event at Pier 60 on November 7 celebrated Conan O’Brien and Robert A. Bradway while underscoring the center’s role as a cultural bridge between Ireland and Irish America.
The night marked a milestone for the Hell’s Kitchen institution as it publicly launched the next phase of a $50 million redevelopment campaign. The funds will help create a second flexible venue for residencies and intimate performances while bolstering programming, maintenance, and endowment needs as the center grows its national profile.
Irish Arts Center Executive Director Aidan Connolly framed the achievement in the context of a decade of growth and investment.
“Together we have raised over $100 million over the last decade to make both phases of this new Irish Arts Center a reality,” he said, adding that the impact of the work is broader than dollars alone.
The gala program mixed heartfelt tributes with high-profile entertainment. Conan O’Brien accepted the Spirit of Ireland Award from Liam Neeson and Joe Moglia after Moglia described him as “one of the most beloved and respected comedians and entertainers of our time.”
Previous Spirit of Ireland Awardee Joe Moglia introduces 2025 honoree Conan O’Brien. Photo by Nir Arieli.
The award came as O’Brien continues to expand his cultural reach with travel series and award-winning projects across television, film, and podcasting.
O’Brien spoke about his personal connection to Ireland and to the arts that the center champions.
“People have told me they get emotional and they go back to the plot of land [where their family lived]. I didn't believe them, and I did,” he said, reflecting on a recent trip to his ancestral homeland.
Conan O’Brien, Irish Arts Center Vice Chair Pauline Turley, Liam Neeson, Irish Arts Center Executive Director Aidan Connolly. Photo by Gary Gershoff.
He dedicated the honor to family and community, saying, “I want to dedicate this to all of us Irish people… I share this gift with all of us who carry this lovely, exhilarating gift and burden of being Irish in this world today.”
The gala also celebrated philanthropic leadership and deep ties between business and culture. Robert A. Bradway, chairman and CEO of Amgen, was recognized for his philanthropy and for his company’s engagement in Ireland.
Declan Kelly introduced Bradway and said, “He saves millions of lives a year because of what Amgen does around the world,” and urged the crowd to note the company’s profound economic and social investments in Ireland.
IAC Vice Chair Pauline Turley, honoree Robert A. Bradway, Declan Kelly, and IAC Executive Director Aidan Connolly. Photo by Nir Arieli.
Board leadership paid tribute to longtime honorary chair Loretta Brennan Glucksman during the evening. IAC Board Chair Bob McCann announced a new Loretta Brennan Glucksman Award for philanthropic leadership that will be presented at future galas, and he praised her “uncommon combination of warmth and strength.”
IAC Board Member Loretta Brennan Glucksman. Photo by Nir Arieli.
Music and performance remained central to the program with the revolutionary all-female Irish traditional supergroup BIIRD performing to a captivated audience.
All-female Irish traditional supergroup BIIRD performs. Photo by Nir Arieli.
Vice Chair Pauline Turley linked performance to place, saying, “Thanks to so many friends in the room tonight, we finally have a home that is worthy of the talent coming out of Ireland and Irish America today.”
The presence of Druid’s "Endgame" cast and crew further signaled the center’s growing status as a serious presenter of international theater.
The fundraising result arrives as the Irish Arts Center nears its public target for Phase Two, with $36 million raised toward the $50 million goal. The new funds are expected to sustain the center’s expansion and to secure an infrastructure that supports artists for generations.
Connolly argued that the investment creates “a permanent infrastructure for that vision” and sets the stage for “an infinity of moments of artistry and inspiration and connection over generations to come.”
Aidan Quinn at IAC Executive Director Aidan Connolly. Photo by Photo by Gary Gershoff.
The Spirit of Ireland Gala remains the center’s largest annual fundraiser and has become a high-visibility moment for Irish American arts and philanthropy. Over recent years, the gala has honored prominent cultural figures, elevating the center's profile in New York and beyond. The center reports that since opening its new facility on 11th Avenue, it has supported over 1,000 artists and reached more than 100,000 audience members.
Organizers say the Gala proceeds will directly support programming and operations, helping to expand education and community access. The push for a second flexible venue is framed as crucial for incubating new work and deepening collaborations between Irish and American artists. Supporters and honorees at the event emphasized the center's role as a bridge connecting communities and fostering creative innovation.
The evening closed on a note of gratitude and ambition as donors, artists, and civic leaders celebrated a new chapter for the Irish Arts Center. With a record-setting $3.7 million raised, the organization is poised to move forward with plans that its leaders say will solidify the center’s role in New York's cultural life and in the ongoing story of Irish America.
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