Our History
The Irish American Partnership was founded in Ireland to organize Irish American support on behalf of job creation, education, and economic development in Ireland. Encouraged by an Irish Parliament grant of 50,000 Irish pounds in 1986, a group of Irish educators, government officials, business executives, and politicians from both the North and South came together to form an Irish organization whose purpose it was to create a supportive partnership between Irish Americans and Ireland.
Paddy Harte TD, a member of the Irish Parliament from Donegal, was instrumental in the creation of the Partnership and achieving seed funding from the Irish Government. Padraic White was elected the first Chairman. Mr. White was also the Director of Ireland’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA) at the time.
An American Corporation was formed and awarded its federal government 501(c)(3) tax designation in 1987 and began its activities in Philadelphia and Boston. Robert Howe of Philadelphia became the Partnership’s first Chairman in the United States and John Davey of Boston joined the Board of Directors as Treasurer. A staffed American office was established in Boston in April of 1988. Joseph F. Leary, Jr., a former Gillette Co. executive, was hired to be President and CEO and remains involved as President Emeritus.
In its early days, the Partnership was seed-funded by the late Irish American businessman and philanthropist Charles “Chuck” Feeney. Chuck’s particular interest in Ireland was spent developing education, civil society and peace initiatives on the island. The Irish American Partnership benefited greatly from his altruism, when in 1986 a newspaper article caught his eye, about the formation in Dublin of a body called the Irish American Partnership, inspired by Paddy Harte, a member of the Dail. Paddy Harte sought to harness the tremendous goodwill toward Ireland among successful Irish Americans to stimulate business and philanthropy.
Chuck Feeney advised the then director general, John Healy that he knew a place in America that might entertain a proposal to the Atlantic Foundation Service Company in Ithaca. Healy called a friend in New York who worked as a fund-raising professional and asked, “What’s a foundation service company?” The friend replied, “I haven’t a clue.” Nevertheless, Healy put together his proposal and the Partnership received seed funding of $250,000 which covered multi-year operating expenses for the organization.
General P.X. Kelley USMC (Ret.) became Chairman of the Board and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill its spokesman and public advocate. Under American leadership, in partnership with the Irish Directors, the American organization began to develop and grow. General Kelley retired in 2001 and was replaced as Chairman by John P. Murray, retired Prudential executive from New Jersey. Today, both General Kelley and Mr. Murray serve as Board Chairmen Emeriti.
In the past three decades, Irish American supporters of the Partnership throughout the United States, have raised more than $58 million to support the island of Ireland. More than 650 primary schools, higher educational institutions, and community organizations have received assistance.
The Partnership has etched a place of honor for itself in the hearts and minds of its Irish constituency.
The Irish government, the Northern Ireland Assembly and British government have endorsed the Partnership in Ireland. Education, business, and political leaders throughout Ireland have applauded the Partnership for the non-partisan support it has provided to both the North and South of Ireland.