Lá iontach; what a day

Highlight of the crowded JFK Golden Bridges Awards luncheon was Liam O Cuinneagáin, one of my great heroes from the Oideas Gael cultural tourism programme in Co Donegal, speaking Irish in his comments to our assembled guests.

And a successful luncheon came after a positive meeting with Treasurer Tim Cahill who has pledged to look further at the suggestion that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts back the investment funds for the North which have now been endorsed in word and funds by New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson.

Among those honored were former Congressman Marty Meehan, Joe Leary of Irish American Partnership, Peggy Cloherty of Cumann na Gaeilge and Dr Anne Donnellon of Babson College. I suspect the Irish Echo gig will be one of the Irish American highlights of 2008 and in Boston, that's some achievement.

Pictured here are three publishers, honouree and my great friend Ed Forry (bearded), myself and Pat Purcell, publisher of the Boston Herald who has just endorsed John McCain today. The Boston Irish Reporter, to balance things out, has endorsed Obama.

The second picture shows Joe Leary, Jim O'Brien of the Ireland Chamber of Commerce USA, Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry and Liam Maskey, our Belfast champion from Intercomm Ireland.

My old pal from California, photojournalist Kevin McKiernan, is in Boston and we hope to meet up later. Kevin is the son of Eoin McKiernan who was mentioned in dispatches from the podium today by AOH veteran and republican icon Dave Burke from Lawrence, Massachusetts. But early to bed, Reg Empey flies in in the am for breakfast we're co-hosting with the Irish American Partnership.