The Ireland Funds has roots in Los Altos

By Jason Sweeney, Special to the Town Crier

Marjorie Muldowney of Los Altos, above, is The Ireland Funds’ regional director.

As residents prepare to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Thursday, it’s plain the Irish Diaspora has left large populations of people of Irish descent in nearly every country. The Bay Area itself is home to a large and well-organized Irish American population.

One of the world’s most extensive Irish networks, The Ireland Funds, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace and reconciliation, has its regional headquarters in Los Altos.

Los Altos resident Marjorie Muldowney, the regional director of The Ireland Funds, describes the organization as a global network of people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development.

“We’re almost like the United Way of Ireland,” Muldowney said. “This year we have over 70 events attended by over 40,000 people in 11 countries.”

Muldowney runs the San Francisco Chapter of The American Ireland Fund from her office in downtown Los Altos. Originally from Ireland, she has been in the area for about 15 years, moving to Los Altos two and a half years ago.

“We are nonsectarian and nonpolitical,” she said. “We are bridge builders between all communities.”

Muldowney worked for the export division of the Irish government before moving to the United States and getting involved in The American Ireland Fund. She was appointed regional director three years ago.

“Our big focus now is on integrated education in Northern Ireland,” she said.

Every year, the San Francisco Chapter of The Ireland Funds holds The American Ireland Fund Annual Gala Dinner Dance in honor of outstanding members of the local community. Last year’s honoree was Gavin Newsom.

This year’s dinner took place Friday in San Francisco. Jon Folan, of Bear Stearns Companies Inc., was the honoree.

Folan was honored with a Distinguished Leadership Award for his achievements in the world of investment banking and for his work at The Ireland Funds. About 600 people were in attendance.

“Jon has been a longtime supporter of The Ireland Funds,” Muldowney said.

Through a variety of different projects and the considerable contributions of Irish Americans across the country and here in the Bay Area, The Ireland Funds works to provide hope for the people of Ireland, both north and south.

For more information about The Ireland Funds, log on to www.irlfunds.org.