Alan Farrelly

Irish Vice Consul Alan Farrelly has spent a good deal of time in Philadelphia, strengthening ties with the Quaker City Irish community.

He’s leaving the post after four years and returning to Ireland in August, but Philadelphia’s Irish made sure his hard work here was recognized.

There were a few speeches, some parting gifts and a bit of music and dance to mark the occasion. But mostly, representatives of the Philadelphia Irish Center and the organizations that make their home there lined up to shake his hand, say a few words of thanks and to have their pictures taken with Farrelly in the center’s cozy little Fireside Room. (Earlier, they had him out on the roof, looking out upon the badly needed repairs. An unfailingly polite young man in a dark suit on a hot day, standing out above the trees of Mount Airy, still doing the government’s business.)

President of the Irish Center Vince Gallagher and board member Tom Farrelly (no relation) led the brief, mostly informal ceremonies, which also honored first secretary Lorraine Christian, who also is returning to Ireland.

“They were never strangers here,” said the Philadelphia Farrelly. “We adopted them, and they adopted us.”

As the Irish Farrelly accepted a commemorative pen-and-clock set from his local admirers, he acknowledged that the admiration is mutual, and he added, “we’re proud to have been a part of the work you do here.”

Farrelly’s involvement—indeed, the involvement of the entire Irish Consulate staff in New York—has been deeply appreciated in the Philadelphia area, said Siobhán Lyons, executive director of the Irish Immigration Center of Philadelphia.

“Alan has just been great,” said Lyons. “The Consul General can’t be every where, so one of Alan’s jobs has been to travel to different places. A lot of that started with (former New York Consul General) Niall Burgess’s recognition that the East Coast of the United States is not just New York City.

“Alan’s been extremely helpful with the Irish Immigration Center. He was there when I was taking it over, and helping to figure out the future strategy of the center. He’s met everybody. It’s going to be a shame to lose him because he knows so many people and he likes Philadelphia. Those will be very big shoes to fill.”

We captured some photographs of Farrelly’s farewell fete at the Irish Center. Check them out.