Bill Cowher honored with Ireland Funds award named after late Steelers chairman Dan Rooney

Jun. 22—Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher was bestowed with an award Monday named in honor of the team's former president and chairman, the late Dan Rooney.

Cowher was presented with the Daniel M. Rooney Ambassador's Award at the Ireland Funds Pittsburgh Dinner on Monday evening at Heinz Field. According to a release from The Ireland Funds organization, the award "is presented to those who reflect Mr. Rooney's leadership, love of Pittsburgh and contribution to the community."

The honor previously was called the Chairman's Award. Cowher is the first to receive the award since it was named after Rooney, who died in 2017. Rooney's father, Art, founded the Steelers nine decades ago.

A Crafton native who was coach of the Steelers from 1992-2006, Cowher last year was selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His ceremony is in August after being postponed from 2020 out of concerns related to coronavirus.

A U.S. ambassador to Ireland under President Barack Obama, Rooney created The Ireland Funds in 1976 along with Pittsburgh businessman Anthony J.F. O'Reilly. Now with chapters in cities across the U.S. and 11 other countries, the organization advocates for support of Ireland via philanthropy with goals of "peace, culture and charity."

Monday's dinner event was postponed from 2020. It also honored Manchester Bidwell Corp. CEO Bill Strickland with the Patricia R. Rooney Community Impact Award. Named after Mr. Rooney's late widow, that honor recognizes "a leader who has produced successful organizational initiatives in response to a significant contemporary problem."

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Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter .