The Boston Irish Reporter, the region's leading chronicler of all things Irish-American, will host “Boston Irish Honors 2012” on Friday Oct. 19, in the main ballroom of Boston's Seaport Hotel. The annual event draws an appreciative audience of some 400 top Boston business and civic leaders and officials of Boston’s many Irish social and cultural organizations.
“The Irish Reporter is pleased to host this third annual Boston Irish Honors celebratory luncheon,” said Reporter publisher Ed Forry. “In keeping with our own heritage, the newspaper will give special recognition to the Muse family, an exemplary Irish American family who shares our common Boston and Irish roots; to Congressman Richard Neal, for his outstanding leadership in Congress; and to Brendan and Greg Feeney, who emigrated from Sligo 30 years ago and have built their firm, Feeney Brothers Contracting, a leading excavation firm.” This year’s anniversary luncheon committee is chaired by Dave Bresnahan, the president of Lexington Insurance.

The Muse family is one of Greater Boston’s leading Irish-American clans and its members have spent much of their lives working on issues of peace and justice in the North of Ireland and here in Massachusetts as well. Bob Muse Sr. played an instrumental role in pursuing justice following the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry. Bob and his wife Mary, a retired Massachusetts Probate Court judge, their children and grandchildren have distinguished themselves in a wide variety of fields.
Congressman Neal will receive his Boston Irish Honor for his outstanding work on behalf of Irish-Americans, Ireland, and the peace process. Neal, who serves as the Democratic Leader of the Friends of Ireland in Congress, is a past recipient of the International Leadership Award by the American Ireland Fund.
Brendan Feeney and Aidan (Greg) Feeney are natives of Co. Sligo who have built a thriving and well-respected contracting business in Boston over the last 30 years. Feeney Brothers Excavation — launched as a two-man operation in 1982— has grown into one of New England’s leading utility contractors, headquartered in Dorchester. The brothers also founded and own two outstanding establishments in Boston— Ledge in Lower Mills and Slate in downtown Boston.
The inaugural Irish Honors event in 2010 honored Congressman Edward J. Markey; John Donohue, the CEO of Arbella Insurance; the Brett family; the Hynes family; and the Geraghty family. In 2011, honorees included State Sen. Tom Kennedy, the James and Jean Hunt Family, the Mulvoy Family, and the Corcoran family.
Boston Irish Honors 2012 Committee members include Dave Bresnahan, Event Chair; Robert E. Sheridan, founding event chair and Matthew Power, 2011 chair; and Michael Lonergan, Consul General of Ireland.
Committee members include James T Brett, William M. Bulger, James Carmody, John T. Carroll, Joseph E. Corcoran, Della Costello, Dick Flavin, John Philip Foley, Ed Forry, Maureen Forry, William Forry, Anne Geraghty, David Greaney, Jim Keefe, Edris Kelley, William F. Kennedy, Rev. Thomas B. Kennedy, Paul LaCamera, Mimi LaCamera, Barbara M. Langis, Sean Moynihan, James J. O'Brien, Jack Shaughnessy, Gil Sullivan, Robert White, and W. Paul White.
Luncheon tickets, at $150 each, are on sale now. Call the Reporter at 617-436-1222 or send an e-mail to BIRHonors@bostonirish.com for reservations.