A beloved public servant, an exemplary Boston Irish family, and one of the city’s most respected journalists will be the honorees at this month’s Boston Irish Honors luncheon, the season’s premier celebration of Irish-American achievement in Massachusetts.
The 8th annual luncheon, which serves as an anniversary celebration for the Boston Irish Reporter, will be held at the Seaport Boston Hotel on Oct. 26. Some 400 top Boston business, civic, and political leaders will be on hand for the luncheon event, which begins at 11:30 a.m.
Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen will be honored for his career in journalism. Cullen, more than any other single reporter or columnist of his generation, has cultivated a sophisticated understanding of the deep ties between Boston and Ireland.
Tom Tinlin, who stepped down as the state’s Highway Commissioner last summer, has been a trusted advisor to Mayor Tom Menino, state Sen. Linda Forry, and Gov. Charlie Baker among many others. A consummate public servant and proud son of South Boston, Tinlin and his wife Heather are now devoted to bringing awareness to the prevention of brain aneurysms, after Tom himself narrowly survived a life-threatening episode earlier this year.
The Kennedy family—Nora, Annmarie, and Bill— are a truly exemplary Boston Irish family who are constantly giving back to their community. Bill Kennedy, a partner at the Nutter law firm in Boston’s Seaport district, is a native of Dorchester who served as chief of staff and chief legal counsel to Speaker of the House Thomas M. Finneran and as an assistant clerk to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
The 35-member luncheon committee is chaired by Aidan Browne, partner at Sullivan & Worcester and chairman of the Boston Friends of the Gaelic Players Association. Serving as honorary chairs are US Sen. Edward Markey and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. The program moderator will be Boston Red Sox “poet laureate” Dick Flavin.
“This inspiring luncheon allows us to recognize and celebrate exemplary Irish individuals and their families who share our heritage in Boston and Ireland,” explained Ed Forry, the founder and publisher of the Boston Irish Reporter.
The Boston Irish Reporter is a family-owned and-operated media publication and, in keeping with our own heritage, the newspaper tells the story of Boston-Irish individuals and families for special achievements in public service and business, and exemplary Irish families who share our common roots in Boston and Ireland. For tickets, call 617-436-1222 or email bostonirishhonors@bostonirish.com.