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Taoiseach welcomes honours conferred on Brian O’Dwyer and John Fitzpatrick

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, has welcomed the conferral of honorary degrees by Dublin City University on two leading figures of the Irish-American community in New York:

  • Brian O’Dwyer, Irish-American lawyer, immigration rights lobbyist and adviser to President Bill Clinton on Irish issues, and
  • John Fitzpatrick, hotelier and philanthropist. 

The honours were conferred in recognition of their sustained efforts to improve the lives of others, ranging from work with the American Ireland Fund, immigration reform, welfare for senior citizens and giving their time and resources to charitable causes in Ireland.

In a message read to the two honourees, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said,

“The recognition by DCU today is a fitting way to honour the work of Brian and John.  Knowing them, they will be quick to share the recognition with the legions of people they have worked with across such a range of causes and campaigns.  But truth be told, they have been leading and guiding the community in New York and in doing so have not just supported countless people but have contributed to the high esteem in which Ireland is held in America.  Brian and John represent all that is best about the Irish people and Irish-America. Through their work, they bring honour to our small nation and show us the way they treasure and nurture their own, and the community’s connections to Ireland, North and South.”

Brian O’Dwyer is a celebrated Irish-American lawyer and lobbyist for immigration rights.  He has received numerous awards recognising his tireless work, both as a humanitarian and as an advocate for the underprivileged.  Most recently, he was appointed Commissioner of the United States National Commission of UNESCO by Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.  Delivering the citation for Brian O’Dwyer, Dr Anne Sinnott said,

“Brian has fought tirelessly to ensure that the millions of undocumented here in America – hard working people who came to this nation seeking a dream and a better life for themselves and their families – receive a path to citizenship.  As we gather here today, this very issue is being debated in Washington.  If this issue is resolved, history will record that Brian O’Dwyer played a pivotal role in the delivery of this achievement.  Whether in the courtroom, in the boardroom, or at the negotiating table; in the White House, in Stormont, or in Leinster House, Brian O’Dwyer has made a career out of making a difference.  He has been involved in major social issues, he has brought people together, he has made the law real for average working people and used it as a shield to defend those who have nowhere else to go.”

John Fitzpatrick, successful businessman and pioneering philanthropist, is widely recognised for his committed work with The Ireland Funds.  As President and CEO of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, he oversees the running of two hotels in New York and has celebrated 21 years in business in the city.  In 2008, John received an OBE in recognition of his contribution to the peace process in Northern Ireland.  Commending John Fitzpatrick for his honorary doctorate, Mr Patrick McDermott, CEO of DCU Educational Trust said,

“John Fitzpatrick has spent a career believing in people and echoing the simple and lasting values instilled in him by his parents.  The example John continues to set in his industry and in his philanthropic work with the Eithne and Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Foundation, here in New York and back home in Ireland, reach a new level now, as he formally assumes the role of Chair of the Ireland Funds.” 

The honorary degrees were conferred at a special event in New York University on Tuesday 11th June 2013.