When Laura Clancy was formally announced as the newest President of Ireland Network Chicago, she could not help but think about her grandmother. After all, like Laura, her grandmother had emigrated to the United States from Ireland, in her case settling in New York and raising a family, including Laura’s mother who was born stateside, before returning to the Emerald Isle.
“I knew from a young age about my grandmother’s emigration story. It was a natural fit for me to want to live in America for at least a portion of my life,” Laura reflects, noting that while her grandmother emigrated largely out of necessity – “wanting to find a better life” – Laura moved out of opportunity to grow personally and professionally.
And grow she has since moving to Chicago, culminating in her recent honor as the Ireland Network’s president, filling the big shoes of her immediate predecessor Craig O’Halloran and numerous icons of Irish Chicago, including Ferdia Doherty, Helen Garraghy, Seamus Byrne, Imelda Gallagher, James Sheehan, and others who had served in the role.
So how did Laura rise to such great personal and professional heights? Her story begins in County Clare, specifically in the rural village of Kildysart, where she had what she describes as a “great upbringing” with her parents and older brother Sean. She maintains close with her lifelong friends and returns home several times per year to spend time with them and her extended family, including one of her grandfathers.
Laura matriculated at the University of Limerick, studying Business and French, then moved to Dublin to work in accounting at KPMG, where she worked for three years before seeking opportunities to live and work abroad.
“The stars aligned for me when I started looking for a job in the US. I visited Chicago for a cousin’s wedding, and a good friend organized a perfect summer weekend in the city for me,” Laura remembers. “I fell in love with the city, and six weeks later, she called me about a job opportunity here.”
That job opportunity came at Glanbia, the global nutrition company based in Ireland with a regional headquarters in Chicago. Laura joined the company as a financial analyst and took on a number of roles, including financial controller for one line of business. Looking to expand her career horizons, she moved into a commercial role for another line of business within the company, where she now works in product strategy. 
By all accounts, Laura found a professional home at Glanbia; as she puts it, “I feel very fortunate to be given the opportunity to work for the company in Chicago, to try new things, and take on different roles that challenge me.”
Outside of her professional transition, Laura’s move stateside was not without challenges. After all, she made her move in late 2019, and by March 2020, the world was gripped in the COVID-19 pandemic, shuttering restaurants, offices, and businesses, and dramatically reducing international travel.
“I picked up a great group of friends in Chicago, and we were all going through a difficult time together,” Laura shares, noting that she would not return home to Ireland until August of 2021. By then, Laura was fully immersed in all things Chicago and has not slowed down. She has embraced the excitement and vibrancy of the city, particularly its lakefront, and even completed the Chicago triathlon. Beyond Chicago’s physical beauty, she recognized the humor and welcoming nature of Midwesterners as similar to the people of her homeland. As she admits, “I pinch myself that I get to live here.”
In March of 2024, looking to get more involved in the local Irish community, Laura attended the Irish American Partnership’s Breakfast, the signature event held annually at the Union League Club. There, sitting with a table of strangers, or, as the saying goes, friends she had not met yet, she shared that she was feeling a bit disconnected from her Irish heritage, and, as she recalls, “within an a hour I was introduced to the Ireland Network, and started volunteering with the Women in Business Forum (held later that month). They welcomed me with open arms.”
In two short years, Laura made a lasting impact with her service to the Ireland Network, serving as Treasurer on its Executive Committee and participating in many of the organization’s social and professional events. In the process, she gained exactly what she was seeking – a stronger connection to home thousands of miles away.
In her new role as President, she sees her mission as protecting what is already great about the Ireland Network and evolving it in new ways. She describes the “Clancy Doctrine” this way:
“It’s important that we remain relevant to all Irish in Chicago, whether they are immigrants just arriving or have been here for 20 years. We should understand our value proposition to each of those people. We have a strong foundation in social events, and we’re proud of that. My personal goal is to expand our offerings on the professional side, as we have a strong heritage of Irish and Irish American connection, which is such an asset, and we should be connecting our members with professional opportunities. I want the Network to be known not just for great events, but for building networks and friendships, and also for helping people build their careers in an ambitious way.”
Reflecting on her role as President, service with the Ireland Network, and immigrant journey, Laura shares that her pride in Ireland – and being Irish - has only grown.
“Being Irish means connecting people, bringing people together through ambition, humor, and common thread. The people of Ireland have had such a disproportionate impact on the world, culturally, socially, and economically, and I enjoy continuing that story in a global way.”
On a more personal level, Laura’s thoughts about her grandmother’s immigrant story from the last century are never far away. As she says, “I’ve had a positive experience in the United States as an immigrant. I hope that my grandmother had that same experience, but I don’t know. We’re in a fortunate position to be able to offer so much to the world, as professionals and people.”
Laura has already contributed to the tapestry of the Irish immigrant experience in Chicago, and by all accounts she will only continue to add to this legacy in her new role.
https://chicagoireland.org/membership-to-ireland-network-chicago
Laura Clancy Steps into Role of President of the Ireland Network Chicago
