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Irish Gala Raises Funds for Center for Irish Studies Programs
11/3/2009
 More than 300 guests enjoyed a festive evening of Irish entertainment, luxurious silent and live auction items and a sumptuous seated dinner at the University of St. Thomas Center for Irish Studies Annual Irish Gala held on Oct. 23 at the Houstonian Hotel. Revelers were on hand to pay tribute to this year’s honorees, Colleen and George McCullough, a former vice president of Exxon Corporation. Longtime friends and benefactors of the University, Gayle and Bob Longmire, chaired the Gala. Bob is a former president and CEO of Esso Sekiyu K.K., then Exxon’s principal Japanese affiliate.
The event was highly successful, raising more than $166,000 for the Center’s study abroad funding and academic programs. The study abroad portion of the live auction raised nearly $31,500 for scholarships for UST students to study in Ireland and Northern Ireland, a figure that included a $15,000 anonymous donation match. A highlight of the live auction was a one-of-a-kind trip for two to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada that included accommodations, tickets to at least three Olympic events and dinner with Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, former UST president.
Special guests included The Honorable Martin Rouine, Consul General of Ireland, and his wife, Mary, and The Honorable Paul Lynch, British Consul General, his wife, Yoko, as well as his parents and many members of his family from Ireland and England. Additionally, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza and Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto were present.
The Center for Irish Studies’ two primary goals are to promote peace and reconciliation using the democratic model of Northern Ireland, and to preserve Irish heritage and culture. The University established the Center for Irish Studies on Jan. 25, 2003, with the support of The Irish Society, a community-based nonprofit, nonsectarian organization.
The Center, under the direction of Lori Gallagher, JD, supports the academic program encompassed in the Irish Studies minor in the undergraduate program and the graduate concentration in the Master in Liberal Arts program. Long-term goals include endowment of the Center and an academic chair.
In partnership with the University’s Study Abroad Program, the Center sponsors programs for study abroad in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Center awards qualified students with scholarships and offers other financial assistance to enhance their educational and cultural experience.
The Center and The Irish Society co-sponsor lectures and cultural events related to the history, literary tradition and culture of Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as the Irish-American experience. For more information on the Center for Irish Studies, visit http://www.stthom.edu/irishstudies.
Show above from left to right: event chairs Bob Longmire and Gayle Longmire, and honorees Colleen McCullough and George McCullough.
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