GREATER CLEVELAND’S IRISH COMMUNITY

TO HONOR THEIR HERITAGE

 

Saturday, October 3, 2009, will mark a busy, memorable and historic day for Cleveland’s Irish Community. At 11:00 a.m. the Irish Cultural Gardens on Martin Luther King Blvd. and Superior Avenue will be rededicated and blessed by Father Jim O’Donnell. A major renovation has occurred this past year due in part to much planning, volunteerism and generosity by many individuals and organizations. With this renovation the Gardens have, once again, become a great source of pride to the community. Dignitaries from Cleveland and County Mayo, Ireland will take part in the special Day.

 

The Mayo Society of  Greater Cleveland was founded in 2004 as a not-for-profit corporation to provide a forum for information and activities of interest to individuals of Irish descent, particularly those with ancestral ties to County Mayo.

 

The 2009 beneficiary is the Irish Garden Club, created to provide capital funding for the restoration of Cleveland's Irish Cultural Garden. Located along Superior Avenue, it was originally designed by Donald Gray and is one of 24 gardens in Rockefeller Park.  Initial fundraising by the Irish Cultural Garden League began in 1933 and the completed garden was formally dedicated in 1939.

 

Continuing that evening, the Mayo Society of Greater Cleveland will hold its Annual Banquet & Ball at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Independence. The presenting sponsor of this year’s Ball is the Galway University Foundation.  Guest speaker at the event will be Dr. William Golden, National University of Ireland.

 

The “Mayo Person of the Year” honor will be bestowed on the late Packy Hyland, former President of Hyland Software, acknowledging his successful career and remembering his generosity and kindness to many individuals and charitable organizations.  As reported in the County Mayo News, “The most remarkable aspect of the Hyland Software story, however, is not its rags to riches transformation. It’s the company’s ethos and its value system, which applies to customers, partners, shareholders and employees. The company believes in treating those associated with it honestly and fairly and in delivering on its business goals without compromising on quality. Packy’s spouse,  Charlene, will be presented with a piece of beautiful County Mayo crystal.

 

Also in attendance from Ireland will be Thomas Joyce, Executive Director, Galway University Foundation, Mulranny and Mayo County Council Chairman John Cribben will also attend.  

 

Following dinner the “Good Clean Fun” band from NY, will entertain. The Society is holding a raffle for trips to Ireland and New York City.  For information on both the Ball and the drawing, call 216-486-2200 (day) or 216-210-3055 (evening).  Tickets for the Ball are $85.00 while tickets for the drawing are $25.00.

 

 

JC Sullivan