| The Irish Society of Houston PO Box 820010 Houston, Texas 77282-0010 |
At the Sofitel Hotel in North Houston, Dorothy Davitt
and Honorary Consul John Kane planned the beginnings
of the Houston Irish Society. They were its founders.
The Irish Society began as the Irish Heritage Society on
October 15, 1999 with 21 people in attendance at Pat
Sharkey's law office. Those in attendance were Mike
Daly, Dorothy Davitt, Judge Daniel Downey, +Mary Lu &
+Paul Doyle, Mary Jo Clancy Faykus, Eamonn Finnerty,
+Mary & Jim Keagan, Delia Fitzpatrick, Michael Fleming,
Rev. Charles Greene, D.D., Col. Michael Harrington,
USMC (Ret.) +Ann Caraway Ivins, Honorable John Kane,
Dr. Joseph McFadden, Glenn McCarthy, Jr., Leah
McCarthy McCurry, Madeline O'Brien, Jeannie Kearns
and our present President, Pat Sharkey. Shortly
thereafter our first official membership list had 90
members, thanks to Dorothy Davitt's many "lists" from
past Houston Irish groups and events. It only took a
couple of board meetings for our organization to plan
for the future. Patrick Sharkey drew up the Irish Society
corporate charter and also applied for and obtained
501(C.)(3) charitable organization status.
The Irish Society really began to develop under our first
president, John Reynolds. It was John Reynolds, John
Kane, and Charles Greene that seduced Conlin "Lyn"
Brogan into joining the organization. "Lyn" was
inducted and became the first (and only) Treasurer in
2000. Dr. Joseph "Tip" McFadden became the second
president in 2001. It was under his leadership that the
organization really evolved. It was "Tip" that organized
a meeting of then Father J. Michael Miller, C.S.B.,
President of the University of St. Thomas, with "Lyn,"
Charles Greene, and John Kane. It was that eventful
meeting that led to the establishment of an Irish Studies
Program and a Center for Irish Studies at UST. "Lyn"
was immediately assigned the responsibility of
establishing an Irish Society Gala that would bring in
funds to fulfill our financial obligation of this mission. He
set up the first four Irish Society Galas at the Petroleum
Club. Between the efforts of Dorothy, "Tip," Ann Ivins,
and "Lyn," membership crescendoed. These four
essential board members then fortunately enlisted The
Irish Society Newsletter Editor, David O'Keefe, who
became everybody's adjutant and was eventually
elected to the Board.
On January 23, 2003, the Center for Irish Studies was
officially inaugurated by Irish Consul General Charles
Sheehan, who came to Houston from Chicago for that
purpose. Lori Meghan Gallagher became its first and
only Director.
In June, 2004, Sean Fitzpatrick organized the Irish
Society young adults (21-35 yrs). During the year the
young adults enjoy lively get-togethers sponsored by our
organization.
The Sixth Annual Irish Gala was recently held at the
Houstonian Hotel. The Gala, jointly sponsored by the
Center for Irish Studies and the Irish Society, marked
the continuation of the Society's financial commitment
to help support the Center for Irish Studies. The vision
of the Irish Society's founders as the home of Houston,
Texas' Irish community and a guardian of Irish culture is
now in the process of expanding. We are grateful for
the continued contributions of the membership and our
friends. Part of our original plan was to act as a financial
umbrella of other worthy Irish, religious, and civic
groups. We have remained a non-political and
nonsectarian organization.
and Honorary Consul John Kane planned the beginnings
of the Houston Irish Society. They were its founders.
The Irish Society began as the Irish Heritage Society on
October 15, 1999 with 21 people in attendance at Pat
Sharkey's law office. Those in attendance were Mike
Daly, Dorothy Davitt, Judge Daniel Downey, +Mary Lu &
+Paul Doyle, Mary Jo Clancy Faykus, Eamonn Finnerty,
+Mary & Jim Keagan, Delia Fitzpatrick, Michael Fleming,
Rev. Charles Greene, D.D., Col. Michael Harrington,
USMC (Ret.) +Ann Caraway Ivins, Honorable John Kane,
Dr. Joseph McFadden, Glenn McCarthy, Jr., Leah
McCarthy McCurry, Madeline O'Brien, Jeannie Kearns
and our present President, Pat Sharkey. Shortly
thereafter our first official membership list had 90
members, thanks to Dorothy Davitt's many "lists" from
past Houston Irish groups and events. It only took a
couple of board meetings for our organization to plan
for the future. Patrick Sharkey drew up the Irish Society
corporate charter and also applied for and obtained
501(C.)(3) charitable organization status.
The Irish Society really began to develop under our first
president, John Reynolds. It was John Reynolds, John
Kane, and Charles Greene that seduced Conlin "Lyn"
Brogan into joining the organization. "Lyn" was
inducted and became the first (and only) Treasurer in
2000. Dr. Joseph "Tip" McFadden became the second
president in 2001. It was under his leadership that the
organization really evolved. It was "Tip" that organized
a meeting of then Father J. Michael Miller, C.S.B.,
President of the University of St. Thomas, with "Lyn,"
Charles Greene, and John Kane. It was that eventful
meeting that led to the establishment of an Irish Studies
Program and a Center for Irish Studies at UST. "Lyn"
was immediately assigned the responsibility of
establishing an Irish Society Gala that would bring in
funds to fulfill our financial obligation of this mission. He
set up the first four Irish Society Galas at the Petroleum
Club. Between the efforts of Dorothy, "Tip," Ann Ivins,
and "Lyn," membership crescendoed. These four
essential board members then fortunately enlisted The
Irish Society Newsletter Editor, David O'Keefe, who
became everybody's adjutant and was eventually
elected to the Board.
On January 23, 2003, the Center for Irish Studies was
officially inaugurated by Irish Consul General Charles
Sheehan, who came to Houston from Chicago for that
purpose. Lori Meghan Gallagher became its first and
only Director.
In June, 2004, Sean Fitzpatrick organized the Irish
Society young adults (21-35 yrs). During the year the
young adults enjoy lively get-togethers sponsored by our
organization.
The Sixth Annual Irish Gala was recently held at the
Houstonian Hotel. The Gala, jointly sponsored by the
Center for Irish Studies and the Irish Society, marked
the continuation of the Society's financial commitment
to help support the Center for Irish Studies. The vision
of the Irish Society's founders as the home of Houston,
Texas' Irish community and a guardian of Irish culture is
now in the process of expanding. We are grateful for
the continued contributions of the membership and our
friends. Part of our original plan was to act as a financial
umbrella of other worthy Irish, religious, and civic
groups. We have remained a non-political and
nonsectarian organization.
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