'Come for the party, stay for the mission:' Ireland Fund hosts 33rd gala at The Breakers
What happens when the Heart Ball and Ireland Funds gala take place on the same night in the same venue?
There are enough women in red or green dresses traversing the colonnades of The Breakers to make somebody wonder if they had too many martoonis on Valentine's Day and awakened just in time for Christmas.
The Emerald Isle Ball, the annual Palm Beach dinner dance of the Ireland Funds, took place Feb. 15.
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Lore Moran Dodge, Michele Kessler, Hillie Mahoney and Sheila O’Malley Fuchs were chairwomen for the 33rd annual event, which began with al fresco cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the Mediterranean Courtyard, where the air was just crisp enough to be remarked upon but not cold enough that folks gathered around a flaming garbage can and sang doo-wop.
After cocktails, the assemblage moved to the Circle Ballroom and a welcome from Caitriona Fottrell, The Ireland Funds president and CEO, who thanked the guests for their support and gave an update on The Ireland Funds.
“At The Ireland Funds, we say, ‘Come for the party, stay for the mission,’ ” said Fottrell, detailing the impact made by a wide range of projects and humanitarian programs throughout Ireland, and made possible by the generosity of donors to The Ireland Funds.
James R. Borynack and Adolfo Zaralegui of the Findlay Galleries were the night's honorees, receiving the 2024 Community Leadership Award from board member and gala chairman Thomas C. Quick in recognition of their steadfast commitment to charitable causes.
“Our support began at a ball we attended years ago when we saw how The Ireland Funds’ work impacted the lives of so many, " Zaralegui said.
"We are proud to be a part of this organization and accept this award on behalf of Jimmy’s Irish mother and his Ukrainian father. Tonight, we are making a $25,000 pledge to The Ireland Funds’ Ukrainian Relief Fund in honor of Jimmy’s father in support of their humanitarian efforts,” Zaralegui said.
The Ireland Funds returned the favor by making a donation to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach in honor of Borynack and Zaralegui.
"My mother would be so proud tonight,” Borynack said, then jokingly offered to read a poem from the signed, first edition Seamus Heaney poetry book that had just been gifted to him and Zaralegui by The Ireland Funds.
The evening continued with dinner ― including corned beef served with mustard sauce made from Hillie Mahoney's closely held recipe; a live auction conducted by Quick; and a performance by tenor Seán Tester and accompanist Deborah Kelleher from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, which concluded with the tear-jerking "Danny Boy. "
The festivities went on into the wee hours with dancing to the music of the Bob Merrill Society Swing Orchestra.
More than 200 people attended.
Proceeds from the evening will assist The Ireland Funds, a global philanthropic network established in 1976, in its mission to promote and support peace, culture, education and community development throughout Ireland, and Irish-related causes around the world.
For information, visit irelandfunds.org.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Ireland Fund hosts 33rd gala at The Breakers in Palm Beach
