Donegal Association in New York City celebrates their 124th Annual Dinner Dance with Daniel

Daniel O' Donnell pictured with the 2019 Mary from Dungloe winner, Roisin Maher from NYC and Ciara Travers, VP Donegal Association, Philadelphia
Daniel O' Donnell pictured with the 2019 Mary from Dungloe winner, Roisin Maher from NYC and Ciara Travers, VP Donegal Association, Philadelphia

The Donegal Association of New York celebrated its 124th Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance at a gala event in Antun’s in Queens Village. Taking place on Friday, 6th March – before the COVID-19 restrictions came into effect in New York – the event was a celebration of the association’s 2020 honourees.

This year's Donegal Person of the Year was the one and only Daniel O'Donnell who was accompanied by his wife Majella. The Willie Joe Cunningham Award Recipient was Mary Grant, a long-serving Recording Secretary for the New York Donegal GAA Club and a great friend of the Donegal Association of New York. Mary has a strong connection to Donegal as both her parents hail from Buncrana. 

Daniel entertained a crowd of over 200 guests in attendance on the night, which is the association’s main fundraising event of the year. Other guests in attendance included Rosina Gallagher (dinner dance chair), Tracy Nolan (journal chair), Eamonn Grant and Irish Deputy Consul General, Eimear Friel who has family connections in Fanad.

Evelyn McBride, President of the Donegal Association of New York said a fun night of music and dining was had by all: “The event was a great success and we couldn’t be happier to welcome Daniel and Majella as our esteemed guests. We also welcomed the 2019 Mary from Dungloe winner, Roisin Maher, along with the 2020 Philadelphia Mary, who was joined by some members of the Donegal Association of Philadelphia, including its Vice President, Ciara Travers. We were also delighted to honour Mary Grant with the Willie Joe Cunningham Award for her long-standing service to the Donegal NY GAA Football Club. The event took place before the onset of Covid-19 and we hope to use some of the money raised on the night to help in the fight against the virus.”

Evelyn added: “In recent years there has been a growing tendency in the United States and elsewhere to come to a greater awareness of history, of ancestors, and of traditions that sustained our forebears. The members of The Donegal Association of New York are both aware and proud of the courageous and self-sacrificing men and women of Donegal who brought to America a love of God, country and family and a set of spiritual and moral values which have been our foundation and strength. Their courage and dedication are a source of inspiration for all of those involved in fostering an active and constructive interest in Ireland and in preserving and enhancing our Irish tradition in the New York metropolitan area. The people of Ireland are proud of the Irish in America and are grateful that so many of their kinfolk maintain their links with the land of their origins.”

If you would like to connect with the Donegal Association in New York you can email donegalnewyork@gmail.com or find them on facebook.

 

During Donegal Connect last year, the Donegal Diaspora project hosted an event in Donegal for all the Donegal Associations worldwide. The event was held in the Villa Rose Hotel, Ballybofey and was a networking opportunity for representatives from each association to get to know each other. On the back of that, we have been building relationships with the Association in Philadelphia and 14 members from the NYC Association went to the Philadelphia Ball last December, while a group of 12 from Philadelphia attended the NYC ball. The relationship continues to grow, and we look forward to developing it further in the coming year.