Photo credit: Janet Donovan
Did you hear the one about Christmas for grown ups? If you were at Bobby Van’s Grill on New York Avenue in Washington, DC on Saturday night you did. “It’s only six months away,” said Michael Lonergan, Deputy Chief of Mission at The Embassy of Ireland, referring to the ‘Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day’ Celebration, “and you have no idea how much excitement and anticipation there is in the Irish Embassy.”
Musical performance by Conor Malone and Bob Spates
The ‘tongue in cheek’ occasion provided an opportunity to honor Patrick Murray who received the inaugural Patriot Award for his heroism serving in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was injured in battle and now he assists recovering Marines at The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; and Michael Kelly who is currently nominated for a primetime Emmy award for his role as White House Chief of Staff Doug Stamper in the hit Netflix show House of Cards with The Irish Spirit Award. The event raised money to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland.
John McCarthy and Michael Kelly
In between Irish Whiskey and some hardy Stout, Ales and Lagers, over 150 O’Neils, Murphys, O’Briens, O’Sullivans and the Walshs raised money for the Promising Ireland Campaign and bid on some very amusing auction items including a Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra photo that competed with one of Jack Nicholson. Pat Tully tossed in a visit to the set of House of Cards to watch the show being filmed and lunch for two with Michael Kelly. The package also included memorabilia from the show signed by his co-stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright.
Hollywood on the Potomac sat down with House of Cards star Michael Kelly who talked about his Irish roots and what he likes best about being Irish:
