THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS!
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The United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc.
115th Annual Dinner Dance was a great success! Friday, January 25, 2019 The 2019 UICA DINNER DANCE JOURNAL
Journal Published by Nuala Purcell, of Purcell Publishing, NualaPurcell@aol.com - (718) 986-2423.
Music by Brian Conway, "Consider the Source" Track 1 - Trim the Velvet/Lord Gordon's - Video by Loretta King, LiKing Websites |
THE 2019 UNITED IRISH COUNTIES ASSOCIATION of NY DINNER DANCE PHOTOS
Photos by Nuala Purcell, of Purcell Publishing, NualaPurcell@aol.com - (718) 986-2423.
Music by Brian Conway, "Consider the Source" Track 6 - Veleta Waltz/Oslo Waltz - Video by Loretta King - LiKing Websites
Music by Brian Conway, "Consider the Source" Track 6 - Veleta Waltz/Oslo Waltz - Video by Loretta King - LiKing Websites
Gael of the Year - Patrick J. McGowan A native of Culleens, Co. Sligo, Patrick immigrated to New York in 1982. With more than thirty years experience as a construction professional, Patrick is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Mc Gowan, a full service construction firm headquartered in East Rutherford, N.J. Patrick is Chairman of the Board of Solace House (formerly Pieta House). He co-founded the Loretta Mc Gowan Foundation, a non-profit organization created in honor of his Aunt Loretta to foster research and educational efforts to help people with Down syndrome. Patrick is also co-founder of the Vincent Mc Gowan Foundation, a non-profit organization in honor of his brother Vincent, who he lost to depression in 2014. 
Rose Cosgrove Distinguished Service Award - Michael F. Prunty A native of Killoe, Co. Longford, Mike, as he is known to family and friends, is a delegate to the UICA from the County Longford Association of Greater New York, where he served as President for three “terms” totaling fourteen years between 1987 and 2017. An active member of the Irish American community, Mike has held many offices in the United Irish Counties Association including President in 2011 and 2012. In addition, he has served as Secretary of New York GAA, President of AOH Division 4 NY County, and is a founding member of The Emerald Guild. Proceeds from the 2019 UICA Dinner Dance will be donated to Solace House which develops, promotes,
and supports programs that create awareness and provide help to those who suffer from suicidal distress and depression. In conjunction with this event and in recognition of our honorees, the UICA will be producing a digital journal. A journal contract is below for your consideration and should be returned by Friday, January 11, 2019. Thank you for your generous support! |
Press Release
January 9, 2019
Press Contact: Colette Connolly
Email: connollycolette5@gmail.com
Proceeds from United Irish Counties Association Dinner Dance to Benefit Solace House
New York, N.Y.--The United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc., will donate the proceeds of its annual dinner dance, to be held at Antun’s on Jan. 25, to Solace House, a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of suicide.
This year’s event will honor Gael of the Year Patrick McGowan, a native of Co. Sligo and CEO of McGowan, a prominent construction firm doing work in New York, New Jersey and Florida, as well as Michael Prunty, a former UIC and County Longford Association president, who will receive the Rose Cosgrove Distinguished Service Award.
The free intervention counseling service, which is an offshoot of the Irish-based Pieta House, founded by Irish Senator Joan Freeman, was launched in New York in 2015 and rebranded as Solace House. Freeman established Pieta House in 2006 following her sister’s untimely death. Since then, it has helped more than 36,000 people in suicidal distress and/or engaged in self-harm.
It now has 13 centers located across Ireland. In New York, Solace House is headquartered at the New York Irish Center in Queens and recently opened a satellite office in Yonkers, the home of the Kerry P&B Association’s Kerry Hall.
United Irish Counties President Tom Tuffy said the decision to partner with Solace House was welcomed by its 33 affiliate organizations and other groups closely associated with the UIC. “The direction I would like to see the UIC taking in the future is that we could help organizations, such as Solace House, that are still growing and support them in the work that they do here in the New York Irish community,” says Tuffy.
The UIC’s selection of McGowan as this year’s Gael of the Year, he explains, was not only based on his success as a business leader but his ongoing involvement in Solace House. McGowan, who lost his brother, Vincent, to depression, currently serves as the chairman of the Solace House Board of Directors.
Solace House CEO Rebecca Skedd says that fundraising is the organization’s most pressing need, with current funds coming from private donors and various fundraisers like this one. “It’s not only about raising funds, though,” she adds. “It’s about creating that further awareness.” Its other fundraising events include the annual Solace Sunrise Walk, previously known as “Darkness into Light,” which starts at 4 a.m. in several locations across the U.S. Participants cross the finish line just as dawn is breaking.
Last year, Solace House volunteers arranged walks in various cities across the U.S., including two in New York City and one in the Catskills, as well as Austin, Boston, Hoboken, San Francisco, and Toronto, among others.
The proceeds raised through the UIC’s dinner dance would bolster the organization’s staffing needs, says Skedd. Currently, Solace House employs a total of five licensed clinical social workers and an administrative team of three full-time staff.
What makes Solace House unique, says Skedd, is the fact that it does not require referrals and its service is completely free of charge. Fifty percent of its current clients come from the Irish community, with the remaining 50 percent from other neighborhoods across New York. Offering a cup of tea and a listening ear, all in a non-clinical environment, is what often sets the Solace House professional team of therapists apart, says Skedd. “The hardest thing for many of our clients is picking up the phone to make that initial call,” she adds. “It’s a very warm place. Most people feel right at home here.”
To attend the dinner dance, email UICANY.Reservations@gmail.com or call Catherine Hogan at 646-489-5258. To place an ad in the association’s digital journal, e-mail Michael O’Reilly at uicajournal@gmail.com or call 646-634-5087. Ads must be submitted prior to Jan. 11th.
To find out more about Solace House, visit its website at www.solacehouseinc.com or call 718-482-0001.
About the United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc.
Organized in 1904, the goal of the United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc., is to organize and represent the 32 county associations that are based in New York for social and cultural purposes. Through the arts, social events and its collaboration with the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, the UICA is a vibrant organization promoting a positive image of the Irish community in New York. Find out more at www.uicany.org and like the association’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UICANY/
January 9, 2019
Press Contact: Colette Connolly
Email: connollycolette5@gmail.com
Proceeds from United Irish Counties Association Dinner Dance to Benefit Solace House
New York, N.Y.--The United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc., will donate the proceeds of its annual dinner dance, to be held at Antun’s on Jan. 25, to Solace House, a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of suicide.
This year’s event will honor Gael of the Year Patrick McGowan, a native of Co. Sligo and CEO of McGowan, a prominent construction firm doing work in New York, New Jersey and Florida, as well as Michael Prunty, a former UIC and County Longford Association president, who will receive the Rose Cosgrove Distinguished Service Award.
The free intervention counseling service, which is an offshoot of the Irish-based Pieta House, founded by Irish Senator Joan Freeman, was launched in New York in 2015 and rebranded as Solace House. Freeman established Pieta House in 2006 following her sister’s untimely death. Since then, it has helped more than 36,000 people in suicidal distress and/or engaged in self-harm.
It now has 13 centers located across Ireland. In New York, Solace House is headquartered at the New York Irish Center in Queens and recently opened a satellite office in Yonkers, the home of the Kerry P&B Association’s Kerry Hall.
United Irish Counties President Tom Tuffy said the decision to partner with Solace House was welcomed by its 33 affiliate organizations and other groups closely associated with the UIC. “The direction I would like to see the UIC taking in the future is that we could help organizations, such as Solace House, that are still growing and support them in the work that they do here in the New York Irish community,” says Tuffy.
The UIC’s selection of McGowan as this year’s Gael of the Year, he explains, was not only based on his success as a business leader but his ongoing involvement in Solace House. McGowan, who lost his brother, Vincent, to depression, currently serves as the chairman of the Solace House Board of Directors.
Solace House CEO Rebecca Skedd says that fundraising is the organization’s most pressing need, with current funds coming from private donors and various fundraisers like this one. “It’s not only about raising funds, though,” she adds. “It’s about creating that further awareness.” Its other fundraising events include the annual Solace Sunrise Walk, previously known as “Darkness into Light,” which starts at 4 a.m. in several locations across the U.S. Participants cross the finish line just as dawn is breaking.
Last year, Solace House volunteers arranged walks in various cities across the U.S., including two in New York City and one in the Catskills, as well as Austin, Boston, Hoboken, San Francisco, and Toronto, among others.
The proceeds raised through the UIC’s dinner dance would bolster the organization’s staffing needs, says Skedd. Currently, Solace House employs a total of five licensed clinical social workers and an administrative team of three full-time staff.
What makes Solace House unique, says Skedd, is the fact that it does not require referrals and its service is completely free of charge. Fifty percent of its current clients come from the Irish community, with the remaining 50 percent from other neighborhoods across New York. Offering a cup of tea and a listening ear, all in a non-clinical environment, is what often sets the Solace House professional team of therapists apart, says Skedd. “The hardest thing for many of our clients is picking up the phone to make that initial call,” she adds. “It’s a very warm place. Most people feel right at home here.”
To attend the dinner dance, email UICANY.Reservations@gmail.com or call Catherine Hogan at 646-489-5258. To place an ad in the association’s digital journal, e-mail Michael O’Reilly at uicajournal@gmail.com or call 646-634-5087. Ads must be submitted prior to Jan. 11th.
To find out more about Solace House, visit its website at www.solacehouseinc.com or call 718-482-0001.
About the United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc.
Organized in 1904, the goal of the United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc., is to organize and represent the 32 county associations that are based in New York for social and cultural purposes. Through the arts, social events and its collaboration with the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, the UICA is a vibrant organization promoting a positive image of the Irish community in New York. Find out more at www.uicany.org and like the association’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UICANY/
United Irish Counties Association of New York, Inc.
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Mail to: United Irish Counties
Tom Tuffy, President 136 King Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704 |
Monthly Meetings: Cathedral High School
1011 First Ave. (& 56th St.), NYC, NY 10022 Meetings are the 3rd Wed of each month from Sept to May. Attendees must be delegates appointed by their respective affiliated organizations. |
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