connect 2017 • 109 connect 2017 • 109 January, 2017 Leading Irish figures from business, political, sporting and cultural circles attended The Ireland Funds Award reception at the Irish Embassy in London. The annual event hosted by Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain Dan Mulhall and his wife Greta recognizes an exceptional organization supported by The Ireland Funds. The 2017 awardee was Irish Heritage, a voluntary arts organization, established in London in 1974 to promote the appreciation and understanding of classical music and music composed by Irish composers, performed by young Irish musicians in Britain. It is the only Irish arts organization in Britain dedicated to helping young Irish musicians through their continuing education and the early part of their careers. In advance of the reception, Amb. Mulhall hosted a private roundtable with the London Young Leaders committee. He discussed the challenges facing the Irish community in London, and the strides that were being made by organizations like The Ireland Funds in addressing those issues. Ambassador Dan Mulhall welcomed guests, and highlighted the great work being done by Irish Heritage. Minister Joe McHugh TD, then addressed the guests and spoke of the importance of the Irish diaspora. After which, Garrett Hayes, Chairman of The Ireland Funds Great Britain, presented Katie Rowan of Irish Heritage with the award. Katie Rowan stressed the importance of Irish Heritage’s bursary to young musicians, such as Christopher Quaid who went on to perform for the audience that evening. He wowed the audience both with his reflection of the importance of the bursary, and with his rendition of Danny Boy on the violin. The Ireland Funds Great Britain Award at the Irish Embassy in London 1 2 3 1 Byron Fry, Claire Tighe, Ruaidhri Dowling, Siobhán Gallagher, Marcus Walsh, Amb. Dan Mulhall, Ciara Lynch, Edward O’Hare, Padraig Sherry, Caitriona Fottrell, Des Collins, Orla Walsh, John Paul Eaton 2 Rory Guinness (center) 3 Garrett Hayes, Katie Rowan GREAT BRITAIN AROUND THE WORLD