New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. with honorees and co-sponsors at his Irish Heritage and Culture celebration at City Hall on April 14, 2009.  Pictured (back, l to r) are: John Fitzpatrick, OBE, Chairman of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, N.A.; Joseph Lee, Glucksman Professor of Irish Studies and Director of Glucksman Ireland House at New York University; Thompson; Pete Hamill, Novelist, Essayist, and Journalist; Bishop Joseph Sullivan, former Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Brooklyn; (front, l to r) Sandra Boyle, Deputy Director of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center; Mary Murphy, Weekend News Anchor at WPIX 11 and former President of the Inner Circle of City Hall Journalists; Mary O’Neil Mundinger, DrPH, Dean and Centennial Professor in Health Policy at the Columbia University School of Nursing.                                                   Photo Credit: Archer Hutchinson.

View Slideshow

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. honored five extraordinary leaders last night at his seventh annual Irish Heritage celebration.  The event was co-sponsored by the Brehon Law Society and the Emerald Isle Immigration Center.

“There is no New York without Irish New York. The history of this city, and the history of the Irish American community here, is deeply entwined, back to the earliest days of New York,” Thompson said at the event, which was held in Council Chambers at City Hall. “To generation after generation of Irish immigrants, our City has opened its arms and provided a full range of services. These new New Yorkers have in turn contributed mightily to our city’s growth and prosperity.”
 
Thompson presented the first award to John Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group.  The Comptroller acknowledged Fitzpatrick’s history in the hotel industry, as well as his charity efforts.

“In recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit, along with his many contributions to the hospitality industry and the cause of peace in Northern Ireland, it is my great pleasure to present this Irish Heritage award to John Fitzpatrick,” Thompson said.

Mary Murphy, the weekend anchor of the Emmy Award winning CW11 News at Ten, and a correspondent for the station's weekday broadcasts, received the second award.

“In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of broadcast news journalism, it is my pleasure to present this Irish Heritage award to Mary Murphy,” Thompson said. 

Thompson presented the third award to Pete Hamill, novelist, essayist and journalist.

“Our next honoree is a writer whose work has informed our view New York City for close to half a century. If you were to look up “journalist” in the dictionary, you might well find the words Pete Hamill,” Thompson said.  “For his dexterity and sensitivity as both an editor and a writer across many genres, and in recognition of his unique ability to capture the daily rhythms, the personalities and the neighborhoods that define our great city, it is my pleasure to present this Irish Heritage award to Pete Hamill.”

The fourth honoree was teacher and health advocate Mary O’Neil Mundinger, Dean and Centennial Professor in Health Policy of Columbia University’s School of Nursing.

“In the course of her distinguished career, Dr. Mundinger has written widely in her field. She has contributed to a broad range of publications, including Nursing Outlook, Preventive Medicine, Nursing Economics, and Medical Care Research and Review, on topics ranging from the challenges facing family practice and primary care, to partnerships between nurses and doctors, to the need for affordable health care,” Thompson said.  “In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the fields of nursing, medicine and health policy, it is my pleasure to present this Irish Heritage award to Mary O’Neil Mundinger.”

The fifth honoree of the evening was Joe Lee, Chair of the Irish Studies program and Director of the Glucksman Ireland House at New York University 

“Professor Lee’s commitment to service is reflected in his four years as an elected Independent member of the Irish Senate, and on the British-Irish Parliamentary Committee from 1993-97. A 1989 Eisenhower Fellow, Prof. Lee has been frequently honored for his work and tonight is our turn.” Thompson said.  “In recognition of his unique contributions to field of Irish history and historiography, it is my pleasure to present this Irish Heritage award to Joe Lee.”

Bishop Joseph Sullivan, former Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Brooklyn led the invocation and the benediction at the ceremony. Darrah Carr Dance performed at the event.

For photographs, contact Kristen McMahon at (212) 669-2589 or kmcmaho@comptroller.nyc.gov.

###