It was a homecoming of sorts for the U.S. Ambassador who spent a celebratory morning in Moville, Co. Donegal on Tuesday, alongside Principal Liam McDermoN at Scoil Eoghain NaPonal School. The Ambassador was delighted to meet with 240 pupils and the teaching staff, as part of a presentaPon by U.S.-based charity the Irish American Partnership [the Partnership]. Ambassador Cronin’s grandfather Hugh McLaughlin was born on the Inishowen peninsula in 1886, and he emigrated to the United States in 1912. The Partnership honored the American diplomat, who previously served as the first female Majority Leader of the MassachuseNs House of RepresentaPves, at their annual Nollaig na mBan Women’s Leadership CelebraPon in Washington, DC in earlier this year. The Ambassador enjoyed a lively interview with BBC America's Caitriona Perry and pledged to present the school grant in person. President and CEO of the Partnership, Mary Sugrue said of the occasion, "Our mission is to connect our members directly to their heritage through grassroots, targeted giving, and we are proud to partner with our friend Ambassador Cronin today, in giving back to her homeland of Moville, and to help with resources for Scoil Eoghain." Ambassador Cronin toured the school, enjoying Irish dance, choral, and poetry recitaPons by the Scoil Eoghain pupils. Said Ambassador Cronin, “It is wonderful to be back on the Inishowen peninsula, the home of my grandfather. The Irish American Partnership builds upon the vital connecPons between the United States and Ireland through generous donaPons that empower Ireland’s young people. I am Media Contact: Clodagh Boyle Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Office: + 1 617 723 2707 delighted to see the partnership’s impact across the island, and today in Donegal with this grant to Scoil Eoghain in Moville.” Principal Liam McDermoN proudly accepted the grant from Ambassador Cronin saying, "The Partnership’s work funding schools, communiPes, and scholarships across Ireland is inspiraPonal. We in Moville are honored at the Ambassador's visit and are delighted to welcome her home to Donegal." Partnership Chief ExecuPve Mary Sugrue and Vice President Clodagh Boyle also visited schools who have received recent funding in Donegal, including Scoil Mhuire, Cresslough, Scoil Naisiunta Glasain, Craosloch, and Scoil Colmcille in LeNerkenny. The Partnership has raised more than $53 million for educaPon, community development, and peace iniPaPves across the island of Ireland, providing targeted grants to schools, university access scholarships, homeless youth educaPon centers, supporPng shared and integrated educaPon iniPaPves in Northern Ireland, and more. The grant to Moville's naPonal school is part of their hallmark O’Neill School Grants program, which has supported more than 600 Irish schools. # # # ABOUT THE IRISH AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP Dedicated to connecPng Irish America and friends of Ireland to their heritage through targeted giving – the Partnership invests in educaPon, community development, and peace iniPaPves across the island of Ireland. Since their incepPon in 1986, supporters have raised over $53 million for young people and communiPes, North and South, empowering and educaPng the next generaPon of global leaders. The Partnership provides targeted grants to schools, provides university access scholarships, funds educaPon centers for homeless youth, supports peace and reconciliaPon iniPaPves in Northern Ireland, and champions Gaelic games, Irish arts, culture, and more. www.irishap.org. #InvesPnginIrelandsFuture
