Anam award honoree Susan McKeown performs for the crowd at the inaugural IrishCentral Creativity & Arts awards at the American Irish HIstorical Society on February 9. Nuala Purcell
IrishCentral held our inaugural Arts & Creativity Awards on Friday, February 9 at the American Irish Historical Society in New York City, celebrating the excellence and innovation of the Irish creative community in America.
Forty-four creative Irish leaders in the US were nominated across eight categories: Media & Innovation, Voice of Today, The Written Word, The Screen, The Stage, Fashion & Design, Visual Art, and Irish Centers & Festivals.
IrishCentral was honored to have Irish Minister for the Diaspora Ciarán Cannon as the Guest of Honor, in addition to New York Assembly Member Daniel J. O'Donnell. Also present were representatives from our wonderful sponsors, TG4, Féile 30, Irish American Writers & Artists, Slane Irish Whiskey, American Irish Historical Society, and Irish Network USA.
Ciaran Madden, Consul General of Ireland in New York; Minister Ciaran Cannon, TD; Brian McCabe; American Irish Historical Society; and Assembly Member Daniel J. O'Donnell photo Nuala Purcell
We were delighted to welcome many of our extraordinary honorees and to announce the winners in each of the categories, selected by public vote and a judging panel.
Minister Ciaran Cannon, Natalie O'Shea of the Irish Community Centers & Festivals winner Celtic Junction Arts Center and Eoin McKiernan Library, and Kevin Gamble of category sponsor Féile an Phobail. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Steve Lenox of Irish Network USA presenting the Media & Innovation award. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Nigel Eccles of Fan Duel won the Media & Innovation award, the Celtic Junction Arts Center & Eoin McKiernan Library was the winner of the Irish American Centers & Festivals Award, and Margaret Molloy won the Fashion & Design for her ongoing Wearing Irish Project.
Brian McCabe of the American Irish Historical Society and Fashion & Design winner Margaret Molloy. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Padraic O Raighne of award sponsor TG4 with The Screen winner Colin Broderick. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Colin Broderick took home The Screen award for his film Emerald City, The Irish Arts Center's annual Poetry Fest won in the Written Word category, and Honor Molloy was awarded The Stage prize for her play Crackskull Row, in the Origin 1st Irish Theater Festival.
Winner Rachael Gilkey of the Irish Arts Center with Consul General Ciaran Madden. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Greg King of award sponsor Slane Irish Whiskey with The Stage winner Honor Molloy. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Shannon Downey, renowned for her craftivism under the name Badass Cross-stitch, won the Voice of Today Award, and photographer Eva O'Leary took top honors in the Visual Arts category.
Bridget Bray of IrishCentral with Voice of Today winner Shannon Downey. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Sheila Langan of IrishCentral with Visual Arts winner Eva O'Leary. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Singer Susan McKeown was recognized with the night's special Anam Award and gave a stunning performance.
Larry Kirwan of Irish American Writers & Artists with Anam award honoree Susan McKeown. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Check out more photographs from the event, below! All photos by Nuala Purcell. Know someone who you think should be honored? We'll be making a public call for nominations for the 2019 Creativity & Arts awards later this year.
Minister Ciaran Cannon addresses the crowd. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Assembly Member Daniel J. O'Donnell. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Host Sophie Colgan of the American Irish Historical Society addresses the crowd. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Greg King of Slane Irish Whiskey does a whiskey tasting for guests. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Dara Burke, winner of the Ireland's Blue Book raffle prize. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Mary Lennon, winner of the raffle prize from guinnesswebstore. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honoree Timothy Egan and Joni Balter. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honorees Niall McKay, Belinda McKeon, Rachael Gilkey, and Maeve Higgins. Photo: Nuala Purcell
John Banta, Assemblyman Daniel J. O'Donnell, honoree Don O'Neill, and Pascal Guillermie. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Mary Ann Pierce, honoree Darrah Carr, David Byrne, honoree Tara O'Grady, Photo: Nuala Purcell
Maeve Price, Peter McDermott of the Irish Echo, winner Eva O'Leary, and Dan Harris. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honoree Dr. Christine Kinealy and guests. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Ryan Mahoney of Quinnipiac University's Ireland's Great Hunger Institute with Kevin Gamble of category sponsor Feile an Phobail. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Liam McNabb with Kevin Gamble of Feile an Phobail. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honorees from the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library in Arizona with Kevin Gamble of award sponsor Feile an Phobail
Michael Galbe, accepting the Media & Innovation award on behalf of Claire McHugh of Axonista with Steve Lenox of award category sponsor Irish Network USA
Brian McCabe of the American Irish Historical Society with Fashion & Design honoree Don O'Neill. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Brian McCabe with Fashion & Design honoree Clodagh. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honoree Niall McKay of Irish Screen America with Padraic O Raighne of category sponsor TG4. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honoree Kathleen Donohoe with Consul General Ciaran Madden. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honoree Timothy Egan with Consul General Ciaran Madden. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honoree Belinda McKeon with Consul General Ciaran Madden. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Jim Patterson accepting on behalf of honoree Breandán Mac Suibhne with Consul General Ciaran Madden.Breandán Mac Suibhne
Sophie Colgan with honoree Ciaran O'Reilly of the Irish Repertory Theater with Greg King of The Stage category sponsor Slane Irish Whiskey. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Greg King of Slane Irish Whiskey with honoree Don Creedon.Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honorees Darrah Carr, Tara O'Grady with Greg King of Slane Irish Whiskey.Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honoree Bob Scanlan of the Poet's Theater with Greg King.Photo: Nuala Purcell
Bridget Bray of IrishCentral with honoree Maeve Higgins.Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honoree John Donoghue with Bridget Bray. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Honoree Dr. Christine Kinealy with Bridget Bray. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Larry Kirwan of Irish American Writers and Artists. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Sheila Langan of IrishCentral with Brendan O'Sullivan accepting on behalf of honoree Solus. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Voice of Today winner Shannon Downey with her wife, Pearl. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Hosts Sophie Colgan of the American Irish Historical Society and Caoimhe Ni Muilleoir of IrishCentral. Photo: Nuala Purcell
Photo: Nuala Purcell
Stay tuned - we'll be making a public call for honorees for the 2019 Creativity & Arts awards later this year.