‘Irish Network Boston’ (IN-Boston), a new networking organization that will be open to anyone in the Boston area who is interested in participating more actively in the Irish/Irish American community, in in connecting professionally, or just looking to expand their social scene is scheduled for a formal launching next month at the city’s historic Faneuil Hall.
Heading the new organization as chairperson will be David Greaney, founder and president of Synergy Investment and Development, which is based in Boston. Greaney is active in the Irish-American business community and has received the Entrepreneurial Award from the Irish Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he has been recognized in Irish America Magazine’s “Business 100” and named one of Business & Finance Magazine’s “Most Influential US-Irish Business Leaders”.

In talking with the Boston Irish Reporter, he explained how this initiative came about: “As one of the actions to come out of the Global Economic Conference held last year in Dublin, the Irish government was determined to create a network of people with common interests — business, cultural, and social — in major cities with Irish populations either by birth or descent. Boston, the most Irish city in America, should be in the forefront of this development.
“We are hoping,” said Greaney, “that IN-Boston will become a networking hub for friends of Ireland, both Irish-born and Irish-American. IN-Boston will become part of a national network, IN-USA, which has branches in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Chicago, San Diego, Denver, and San Francisco, with more expected to launch over the coming months. IN-Boston connects its membership with existing branches, and through them with Irish people and people of Irish heritage all over the United States and in Ireland.
“There are many successful Irish organizations here in Boston,” said Greaney, “ but this is about creating something that will be both new and complementary. IN-Boston will not be focused on any one area, like business or culture or sport, but rather will seek to include everyone in this city and beyond who is interested in matters Irish. I am hoping that this new organization will bring all the different strands together, and, with its connection into similar networks across the U.S., will succeed in attracting membership across the city.
“IN-Boston will hold events throughout the year and it will use its website to promote other events taking place in the city which have an Irish flavor,” Greaney said. “We will invite and urge other Irish groups to let us know of their events which we will publicize on our website, irishnetworkboston.org.”
The venture has the full support and backing from Irish Government representatives in Boston, Greaney noted. In particular, the Irish Consul General to New England, Michael Lonergan, believes this is an exciting new opportunity in Boston.
“The Irish Government is very mindful that our most important bilateral relationship is with the United States,” said Lonergan. “Now more than ever we are conscious of the importance of our Diaspora and our friends here in the U.S. and we are hoping that endeavors like this will create a bond between Irish people living here, with people of Irish descent, and with those who are simply interested in things Irish. Similar organizations have been successfully launched in other cities and I am confident that the capital of Irish America will take a leading role in this initiative.
“IN-Boston’s board members have been chosen from across a wide spectrum with backgrounds in law, academia, business, community activity and culture,” said the consul general. The aim is to have as inclusive and wide ranging an organization as possible. My colleagues here in the IDA and Enterprise Ireland are working closely with me and IN-Boston to ensure the success of this new and exciting development.”
The formal launch will take place on Wed., Nov. 3, in Faneuil Hall with a number of famous faces expected and a guaranteed night of fun, hospitality and entertainment being laid on, said Greaney. The board encourages people to log on to the website at irishnetworkboston.org and join IN-Boston for a very special evening.
The membership fee will be $50 a year with members getting invitations to IN-Boston events beginning with the launch party. Members are also automatically linked into IN-USA and can access members information and events from the other branches of IN-USA located throughout the country.
“Greaney is pleased with the planning for the launch and has great expectations for the organization. “I can honestly say that our launch event on Nov. 3 will be a major event of itself and I urge BIR readers to check out the website, join up, and come along to partake in an enjoyable night but one that will link you further into all that is best within our community here in Boston.”
— BIR STAFF