Photo credit: Claire Rumpsa
“When the program was begun twenty years ago, Northern Ireland was still war torn,” said Anne Sullivan, “filled with hatred with Protestants against Catholics and Catholics against Protestants.
Programs like this have made a profound difference. Now a whole generation of Washington Ireland Program alumni have established enduring friendships independent of religion. They have learned to respect differences and search for commonality. They have carried these lessons to their adult lives. Carol Wheeler, the WIP family and those who provide internships should be proud of all that they accomplished. This evening was a celebration of how a lasting peace can be achieved one person at a time.”
Mark Shields, Ambassador Gerald McGowan, Susan Davis, Gordon Peterson, Mark Tuohey, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Tamera Luzzatto, Mark Russell
Six wildly popular and accomplished Washington area master chefs offered tastings of their signature preparations at the 5th annual An Evening with Celtic Chefs at the Fairfax at Embassy Row Hotel, Washington, D.C. And no, they aren’t the ones pictured above, although they stole the show.
Chefs Tracy O’Grady (Willow, Arlington, VA), Jeffrey Gaetjen (Ancora, DC), Victor Albisu (Del Campo, DC) Ted Hughes (The Irish Inn at Glen Echo), Geoff Tracy (LIA’s, Chef Geoff’s) and “Michael Abt” (Le Diplomate, DC) offered their “field-to-plate” cuisine. They were joined by over 30 VIP Chefs serving as guest Sous Chefs including Members of Congress, the Administration, media personalities and Washington business leaders. The Honorable Anne Anderson, Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States, and Mr. Norman Houston represented the Northern Ireland Executive as Honorary Co-chairs.
MC Margaret Brennan with Anne Anderson, The Ambassador of Ireland (center)
An “Evening with Celtic Chefs” benefits the Washington Ireland Program (WIP). Now in its twentieth year, WIP has become one of the most prestigious leadership development programs in Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Created in response to the divisions caused by “The Troubles,” students participate in intensive leadership training and community service both in Washington and at home. Program alums now include the Mayor of Derry, the youngest Cabinet Minister currently serving in the Irish government Leo Varadkar, T.D., Chris Lyttle, MLA in Stormont and many award-winning business and social entrepreneurs. Carol Wheeler, the founder of the Washington Ireland Program, was honored during the evening for her many contributions to the success of the program.
Carol Wheeler pictured with some Washington Ireland Program Alumni
We weren’t sure what Celtic Cuisine embraces so we did a little research and here are some of the more popular dishes : Fadge (potato bread). trout and herb jelly, Colcannon (mashed potatoes with Cabbage), and sticky toffee pudding. We also weren’t sure if it is potato or potatoe so we used both. Former VP Dan Quayle was unavailable for comment.
