QU President is Hall of Fame Inductee

Quinnipiac University President John L. Lahey, of Cheshire, will be among five leaders who will be inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

This year’s recipients represent the best of Irish America from crime fighting to aesthetic architecture to philanthropy to Hollywood and concern for others, said Patricia Harty, editor of Irish America magazine. ”It is truly a stellar list.”

Lahey will join this year’s other inductees, including Loretta Brennan Glucksman, chair of the American Ireland Fund; Ray Kelly, New York City police commissioner; Thomas Moran, chairman, president & CEO of Mutual of America and chairman of Concern Worldwide US; and renowned architect Kevin Roche.

The Irish America Hall of Fame honors the extraordinary achievements of Irish-Americans leaders—from their significant accomplishments and contributions to American society, to their personal commitment to safeguarding their Irish heritage and the betterment of Ireland.

"It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized with such an outstanding group of people," said President Lahey.

The recognition comes as the university plans to open Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University at a nearby off-campus location at 3011 Whitney Ave. The museum will feature an extensive collection of paintings, maps and sculpture, including works by Padraic Reaney, John Behan, Rowan Gillespie, Glenna Goodacre, Niall Bruton and Kieran Tuohy. The modern collection is complemented by period pieces by artists such as James Brenan and Jack Yeats.

President Lahey’s commitment to promoting his Irish-American heritage has also spurred interest among Quinnipiac students to study at the University College Cork in Ireland. Quinnipiac is one of the U.S. universities that sends the greatest number of students to study abroad at University College Cork each year. Seventy-two students have studied abroad at University College Cork this academic year.

In addition, President Lahey has been involved with the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade for more than 30 years and currently serves as vice chairman of the Parade Committee. He also was the parade’s grand marshal in 1997.