Irish America Hall of Fame
The Irish America Hall of Fame was established in New York by Irish America Magazine in 2010, when Donald Keough president and Chief Operation Officer of Coca-Cola Co. was inducted in a ceremony at the New York Yacht Club. It honours the extraordinary achievements of Irish-American leaders, from their accomplishments and contributions to American society to their personal commitments to safeguarding their Irish Heritage and the betterment of Ireland.
It has helped re-establish an ethnic identity for the Irish diaspora in the U.S, which accounted for 32.6 million people according to the last U.S census.
And it highlights the best political and business leaders, artists, writers and community figures amongst people of Irish heritage in America.
Irish America Magazine was founded in New York in 1985, by Patricia Harty and Niall O’Dowd.
Since then it has become a powerful vehicle for expression on a range of political, economic, social and cultural themes that are of paramount importance to people of Irish heritage in the U.S.
A collaboration between The Irish American Hall of Fame and the John F. Kennedy Trust was established as a result of frequent contact between Sean Reidy, then CEO of the JFK Trust, and Irish America Magazine’s co-founder Patricia Harty.
With the upgrading of the Dunbrody Visitor Centre in 2011 we decided that the Centre would house the Irish America Hall of Fame.
Prominent Americans of Irish heritage would be chosen each year for induction into the Hall of Fame and, as well as being honoured at a Gala Induction ceremony in New York City, and in the magazine itself.
A portrait gallery and audio visual presentation in New Ross would mark their achievements in a permanent display. Michael Flatley, the renowned dancer and choreographer, officiated at the opening of the Irish America Hall of Fame at the Dunbrody Visitor Centre in July 2011.
Hall of Fame Inductees
2010
Donald Keough
2011
Maureen O’ Hara
Dr. Kevin Cahill
President William J. Clinton
Charles F. Feeney
Michael Flatley
William J. Flynn
Mary Higgins Clark
Denis Kelleher
Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith
Dr. James Watson
William Clay Ford, Jr
2012
Loretta Brennan Glucksman
Ray Kelly
John Lahey
Tom Moran
Fionnuala Flanagan
Liam Clancy
Kevin Roche
2013
Vice President Joe Biden
Brian P. Burns
Robert M. Devlin
John Fitzpatrick
Bruce Morrison
2014
Bill O’Reilly
Chris Matthews
McDonald Family
Martin O’ Malley
Christine Kinealy
Andrew McKenna
Patrick Ryan
Brian Stack
2015
Hilary Rodham Clinton
Robert J. McCann
Emmet O’ Connell
Patrick Quinn
2016
Colonel Eileen Collins
General Martin E. Dempsey
Pete Hamill
Ed Kenney Jr.
2017
Dr. William C. Campbell
Michael Dowling
Sister Tesa Fitzgerald
Terry O’Sullivan
Kevin White
2018
Brendan Grace
Lieutenant General Bernard E. Trainor
Jerry Brown
John O ‘Brennan
Dennis P. Long
Kelli O’ Hara
2019
John McShain
Frank Rossiter
Adrian Flannelly
Terry George
Arturo O’ Farrill
Charlotte Moore
Ciaran O’ Reilly
James P. O’Neill
John C. Dearie
2020
Kathleen Murphy
Pat Doherty
Eileen Murray
Sean McGarvey
Judy Collins
Thomas Kelly
Richie Neal
Jean Butler
2022
Denis O’Brien
Read more about Irish America Hall of Fame Inductees here: irishamerica.com
Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience Overview
The Dunbrody Famine Ship is one of the premier tourist attractions in the South East of Ireland. Centred on an authentic reproduction of an 1840’s emigrant vessel, it provides a world-class interpretation of the famine emigrant experience.
