Ireland's Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD announced the recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad for 2024 on Tuesday, October 8.
Irish Americans Patrick Leahy, Stella O'Leary, and Mary O'Neil are among this year's ten recipients.
A former Democratic Senator for Vermont, Leahy was a key supporter of Irish immigration reform in the US, as well as the Good Friday Agreement, during his time in the Senate.
O'Leary, who founded the Irish American Democrats Political Action Committee in 1996, was appointed in 2022 by US President Joe Biden to be the observer to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI).
O'Neil, meanwhile, is an attorney based in California and a past president of the Irish American Bar Association.
All three were congratulated on their honors on Tuesday by Ireland's Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason.
Delighted to see @SenatorLeahy, Stella O'Leary, and Mary O'Neill among the US recipients of the 2024 Presidential Distinguished Service Awards Recipients in recognition of their enormous contributions over the years 🇮🇪 👏🏻https://t.co/sTjcykFTIh
— Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason (@IrelandAmbUSA) October 8, 2024
Announcing the recipients on Tuesday, the Tanaiste said: “Irish people overseas continue to make vital contributions to their communities and on the international stage.
"I am always very honoured when I get to see first-hand the impact they make locally and globally.
“The ten recipients announced today highlight the diversity of areas where the global Irish are making a difference - arts, culture, sport, charitable and community works, business, peace, inclusion and equality.
“The Presidential Distinguished Service Award acknowledges the connection between the work of the recipients and our values as a nation, strengthening the ties between Ireland and the Diaspora.”
January 2024: Ceremony for the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad. (President of Ireland)
Ireland's Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming TD added: “We are immensely proud of our global Irish family.
“Each of this year’s recipients is a leader in their chosen field and rightfully deserving of the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards in recognition of their work and their contribution to enhancing Ireland’s reputation.
“It is particularly welcome to see recipients from four continents, demonstrating the diversity of contributions being made by Irish people, and those with strong affinity to Ireland, across the world.”
Read more
The Presidential Distinguished Service Award was established by the Irish Government following the 2011 Global Irish Economic Forum as a means to recognise the contribution of members of the Irish diaspora and was first awarded in 2012.
Nominations are made through Ireland's network of diplomatic missions. To qualify, a person must be habitually resident outside the island of Ireland and meet a number of requirements to prove their service.
This year's awards will be presented by President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins at a ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin in January 2025.
Recipients of the 2024 Presidential Distinguished Service Awards:
- Seamus Coleman - Britain - Arts, Culture & Sport
- Aduke Gomez - Nigeria - Arts, Culture & Sport
- Rosalind Scanlon - Britain - Arts, Culture & Sport
- Prof. Enrico Terrinoni - Italy - Arts, Culture & Sport
- Orla Kiely - Britain - Business and Economic Development
- Sr. Teresa McKeon - Sierra Leone- Charitable Works & Advocacy
- Mary O’Neil - USA - Inclusion & Equality
- Pam O’Mahony - Australia - Irish Community Support
- Patrick Leahy - USA - Peace, Reconciliation and Development
- Stella O’Leary - USA - Peace, Reconciliation and Development
Comments