Dear Members and Friends of the Donegal Association:
Welcome to the 133rd Donegal Ball at the Commodore Barry Arts and Cultural Center of Philadelphia on December 3, 2022.
I would like to thank President Mary Boyle, chairperson of the Donegal Ball – Ciara Travers, the Ball Committee, Board and Membership for granting me the honor of serving as Grand Marshal of the 133rd Donegal Ball.
When I reflect on growing up in Ireland, my parents Patrick and Annie Gallagher and my two sisters Brigid and Anne on the family farm in Dunmore near the village of Falcarragh, County Donegal; I have fond memories of my mother telling us about the Donegal Ball and the many friends she made and good times they had at the Ball. She emigrated at the age of 19, worked in Chestnut Hill and returned to Ireland after eleven years. Little did we think that Brigid, Anne and I would emigrate and experience the same welcoming hospitality and friendship that still exists to this very day at the Donegal Ball.
My early years of work experience began as a receptionist at the Port-na-Blagh Hotel on the West Coast of Donegal. They employed a lot of young people but the jobs were seasonal.
I also worked in Dublin and London before coming to Philadelphia.
After buying my first property, I decided to take real estate classes at Holy Family College in Philadelphia. Upon receiving my real estate license, I pursued a career in residential real estate and eventually changed to commercial while working for Re/Max 2000 and specialized in the sale of taverns, restaurants and liquor licenses.
Eventually, I found myself multi-tasking between the real estate business and ownership of the Irish Rover Inn, Bucks County, an Irish pub and restaurant. After 13 years in the business (1977-1990) I sold the pub and continued in the real estate business. Subsequently, I was privileged to be grand marshal of the Bucks County 1991 St Patrick’s Day Parade in appreciation for my years of service to the community.
It was a pleasure and experience working eight years on the Board of the Donegal Association years—thank you to the membership.
Good Luck to the “Mary” contestants and Chairperson Marissa Berry and the Committee.
I would like to thank my husband Frank McDonnell for his love and support and our summers in Ireland since his retirement.
Let us remember in our prayers the victims of the Creeslough, County Donegal explosion where ten lives were lost and many injuries, October, 2022.
Thanks to the Irish Edition, Jane Duffin, the late Tony Byrne and staff for all your years of support to the Donegal Association.
Merry Christmas,
Kathleen McDonnell
PROUD TO BE YOUR GRAND MARSHAL