960 Guests and the President of Ireland Marked 20 Years of IIC on May 27th

“I’m surprised at how many people I know here,” said Tom Lee, during the afterparty of his first Irish Immigration Center Solas Awards. It was a sentiment shared by many of the 960 guests who reconnected with friends of years and locations past.on a memorable Wednesday night.

Nearly 1000 local folk from Boston’s Irish Community crammed the ballroom of the Westin Copy Hotel to celebrate twenty years of IIC and to enjoy a dinner fit for a President.

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese was the 2009 Solas recipient and honored guest.Living her to billing as an eloquent and moving orator, she delivered a keynote address that was alternately funny, emotional, personal and powerful. Taking the theme of “Two shortens the Road,” an old Irish saying meaning that a journey is a lot shorter when it’s shared, and the notion of “moving along a bit and making room for someone else,” she spoke as though addressing everyone individually, and delivered a message that resonated with immigrant and native alike.