December 2017 Boston’s hometown VOL. 28 #12 journal of Irish culture. $2.00 Worldwide at All contents copyright © 2017 bostonirish.com Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. Beannachtaí na Nollag Christmas Blessings by Mary McSweeney . I work in Hollywood but I keep my money in my hometown-Kevin Chapman Check out City of Boston Credit Union - visit CityofBostonCU.com Page 2 December 2017 BOSTON IRISH RePORTeR bostonirish.com bostonirish.com December 2017 BOSTON IRISH RePORTeR Page 3 Lynch feted at record-breaking Ireland Fund gala More than 1,000 guests gathered on Thursday, No- vember 16 for The Ireland Fund’s 36th annual Boston Gala at the Westin Boston Waterfront. A record-breaking $2.6 million, the largest amount ever achieved at the Boston Gala, was raised to support non-profit organizations across the island of Ireland and around the world. The 2017 Boston Gala was co-chaired by David Greaney, president and CEO of Synergy Investments and Robert E. Griffin, U.S. Head of Capital Markets and President of The New England Area at Newmark Knight Frank. The 2017 gala honored noted business leader and philanthropist Peter S. Lynch, president of The Lynch Foundation and Vice Chairman of Fidelity Manage- ment and Research Company. The invocation was delivered by His Eminence Cardinal Sean O’Malley. Preceding his prayer, the Cardinal thanked The Ireland Funds for its critical work in Ireland and its support of worthwhile non- profit projects in Greater Boston. After dinner, 12-year-old Cian Michael Smith, an uilleann pipes player, accompanied by his two first cousins on the fiddle and melodeon respectively, played a lively traditional Irish music medley. The trio, all from tiny Ballymacarbry in Ireland’s County Water- ford, opened with a slow air which quickly turned into Above: Bob Reynolds, Cardinal Sean O’Malley and an up-beat jig, then a reel, at which point the crowd Peter Lynch. clapped and stomped their feet and Cian and his cousin Right: event co-chairmen Robert e. Griffin and David Greaney with Steve Greeley, New england Brid step danced. director of AIF. Jack Connors, the 2015 Gala honoree, introduced Peter Lynch. Touching on the breadth of the Lynch projects in Ireland such as the restoration of centuries Foundation’s impact, Connors recounted many in- old Georgian structures, and establishing new athletic stances of The Lynch Foundation’s social investments fields, a community center, and others. in the areas of education and health care, both in the Vice President of Major Gifts and New England Di- US and Ireland including: Boston College’s Lynch rector Steve Greeley closed the evening by expressing School of Education to the Catholic Schools Founda- The Ireland Funds’ deep appreciation to its donors, tion providing scholarships to needy students to attend guests and Peter Lynch and encouraged everyone to parochial schools which boast high graduation and join popular local Irish band Devri for the post-gala college admission rates; to health care initiatives, to celebration. Tánaiste Fitzgerald Charitable Irish Society to honor resigns amid Garda three with its Silver Key Awards The Charitable Irish outstanding dedication in grants from other coun- Society, the oldest Irish so- helping new immigrants, tries in addition to those query scandal ciety in the Americas, and the proceeds from from Ireland. Ireland’s deputy prime Business, Enterprise and will host its 19th Silver the annual reception are Individual reservations minister— or Tánaiste— Innovation. Key Awards Reception on used to underwrite the are available for $125 per Frances Fitzgerald re- In a statement released Wed., Dec. 6, from 6 p.m. work of the Charitable person, and sponsorship signed her position on to the press, Fitzgerald to 8 p.m. at the Fairmont Irish Society in helping are available from $500 Nov. 28 rather than risk said she made the decision Copley Plaza Hotel in Bos- individual immigrants on to $2,500. a vote of no confidence “to avoid an unwelcome Frances Fitzgerald ton’s Copley Square. an “as-needed basis.” Advance registration and the potential of new and potentially destabilis- Irish Hearts organiz- Since its founding in is required and checks elections in the wake of a ing general election at this whether there has been er Winnie Henry, Irish 1737, the Society has been should be made payable brewing controversy. historically critical time.” enough progress to start International Immigrant able to provide aid and as- to The Charitable Irish Fitzgerald, who repre- According to RTE, Tao- discussions over Britain’s Center director Ronnie sistance to newly arrived Society and mailed to The sents Dublin Mid-West in iseach Leo Varakdar con- future relations with the Millar, and Boston May- Irish immigrants in the Charitable Irish Soci- the Dail, came under fire firmed Fitzgerald’s offer bloc. Ireland says the EU or Martin J. Walsh will Boston area as they face ety, c/o Sandra Moody, 56 after news reports showed to resign and “he has will block those talks if be awarded the Society’s the multiple challenges Thomas Park, #3 South that she had been alerted accepted it.” Britain does not spell Silver Keys in recogni- of adjusting to and as- Boston, MA 02127. to “whistleblower” allega- Fitzgerald’s resignation out how it can keep the tion of their outstanding similating into a new city R e g i s t r a t i o n i s tions of alleged corruption comes just three weeks Ireland-Northern Ireland contributions to the Irish and country. Consistent also available by credit within the Garda in July before a crucial European border free of customs community. with the Irish traditions card at charitableirishso- 2015, but took no action. Union summit on Brexit. posts and other barriers The award is conferred of hospitality and charity, ciety.org. She will also resign from EU leaders will decide after Brexit. annually upon individuals the Society has expanded her role as Minister for at a Dec. 14-15 summit – REPORTER STAFF who have demonstrated its focus to include immi- Man extradited from Ireland to face condo fraud charges in Boston By RepoRteR Staff and await prosecution there, involved in his actions related And, prosecutors say, he forged by claiming he was immune A man with dual Irish and even though the actual proper- to 80 Draper St. and 110 Norton an appraiser’s signature on from extradition because he had US citizenship was arraigned ties and alleged frauds were in St. in Dorchester, 650 E. 6 St. documents with inflated values committed some of the alleged in Boston last month on federal Dorchester, South Boston and in South Boston and 50A Stacy for the properties that were used offenses while in Ireland and fraud and identity-theft charges Randolph and the real-estate St. in Randolph. in the mortgage applications. Irish law forbids extradition for that could put him in prison appraiser whose name he alleg- Federal prosecutors charge Lee left the Boston area for crimes committed on Irish soil. for four decades after he spent edly forged on documents works that Lee bought the two- or Newtown, County Kildare in As one court rejected his argu- six years trying and failing to in the Boston area. three-family properties in Ireland in 2007. In 2008, the ment, he appealed, until finally persuade Irish courts to let him The US Attorney’s office in 2005 and 2006, converted them Secret Service filed a sealed the Irish Supreme Court got the stay in County Kildare. Boston reports that in addition into condos, then “sold” them criminal complaint against case earlier this year and even- Patrick Lee, 44, was extradit- to a potentially lengthy prison to straw buyers for whom he him in Boston federal court. tually rejected his argument. ed to the US after the Irish Su- sentence, Lee also faces up to made up income and employ- A grand jury indicted him in Although it is probably of little preme Court last month rejected $1 million in fines if convicted ment records so they could 2010, although the indictment solace to Lee, he did make legal his argument that because Irish on 29 counts of wire fraud, six get mortgages that they then was not released until 2011, at history in Ireland - the reading laws also prohibit the fraud he counts of unlawful monetary promptly defaulted on - after which point prosecutors began of the judgment against him was allegedly committed in the US, transactions, and 16 counts of Lee had banked the bulk of the extradition proceedings against the first Irish Supreme Court he should be tried in Ireland aggravated identity theft, all proceeds of their transactions. him in Ireland. 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Exp _____________________________________________________________ Call 617-436-1222 or Fax this order form to 617-825-5516 Mail to: Boston Irish Reporter, 150 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125 Page 4 December 2017 BOSTON IRISH RePORTeR bostonirish.com Publisher’s Notebook Point of View Ireland’s best ’Tis The Season, sadly, of groping, pubs, restaurants and thankfully, of giving where it counts By peteR f. StevenS his mouth or his Twitter feed.