Ireland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin presents a check to Immigration Center Executive Director Siobhan Lyons.
During a visit to the Irish Immigration Center in Philadelphia last week, Ireland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin presented Center Director Siobhan Lyons with a check for $117,000. The Irish Center is one of the recipients of the Irish Abroad grant, funded by The Department of Foreign Affairs.
Joining Martin on his visit were Noel Kilkenny, recently appointed Irish Consul; Michael Collins, Ambassador of Ireland to the U.S.; David Cooney, who heads Ireland’s United Nations Mission in New York; and Vice Consul Alan Farrelly.
They were welcomed warmly by a strong turnout from the Irish-American community.
The donation will go a long way towards funding some of The Center’s planned initiatives, most directly the expansion of the senior community activities.
“We’re deeply grateful for the money,” Lyons said. “The Irish government is one of the most generous donators to The Immigration Center.”
“One of our goals for 2011 is to staff a full-time social worker, someone who will be able to reach out to the elderly, our most vulnerable population. There is a growing number of aging immigrants, many of whom are shut-ins who can’t make it out here to The Center. By employing a social worker, someone who’s from the Irish Community, or Ireland, we’ll be able to reach those people who are most in need of our assistance. Having someone culturally sensitive to the needs of the immigrant community means that they’ll be able to establish a rapport quickly and get to the issues straight away.”
