More than 400 of our friends and supporters in Chicago joined the Partnership’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Union League Club of Chicago on Friday, March 15th. We were honored to welcome keynote speaker Irish Minister for Social Protection, and Community and Rural Development Heather Humphreys, TD, who joined us for our 28th consecutive year of Chicago-area festivities.

Guest speakers included Senator Dick Durbin, who welcomed Minister Humphreys, and spoke in support of the Partnership’s mission.

“Bringing together the people of Ireland in an effort to find peace and a future, was a heroic effort that goes on even to this day… I hope the spirit of the Irish will bring us as a nation closer together.”

Guest speaker Professor Pat Dolan, Director of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at The University of Galway, spoke about the innovative Activating Social Empathy program, a social and emotional learning curriculum for Irish secondary school students which was been supported by the Irish American Partnership.

"As Patron of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at the Irish American Partnership for furthering our youth-led empathy education program in secondary schools," said Patron and Oscar™ Winning Actor Cillian Murphy, in a video message to assembled supporters.

The annual breakfast celebration was made possible thanks to our generous sponsors, to our wonderful speakers including Senator Dick Durbin, Former U.S. Representative & Founder of The Kennedy Forum, Patrick J. Kennedy, Grand Marshal of this year’s parade, Peter O'Brien, Sr., President & CEO of Mado Management, and Fr. Jack Clair.

Our thanks to the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band, and our musicians Larry Nugent, Johnny Connolly, Cary Novotny as well as Irish Tenor Paddy Homan.

We are so grateful to count you among the friends of the Partnership. Thank you for your support which makes our work possible, honoring our heritage by investing in Ireland’s future.