Come don your green dress and bow tie and join in the festivities at the 2019 Annual Irish Gala from 6 – 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8 at the Houstonian Hotel. The Irish Gala host is the William J. Flynn Center for Irish Studies at the University of St. Thomas. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Story of the Irish” in the growth and prosperity of Houston and Texas as well as Irish heritage and culture.

Gala Proceeds Benefit Scholarships

Chairs are Mary and Dr. James McDeavitt, MD, and Honorary Chairs are Gloria Portela and Dick Evans. Proceeds from the Gala benefit the Center for Irish Studies.

Gala Honors Patrick Herlihy, MD

This year’s gala will honor Patrick Herlihy, MD, member of the William J. Flynn Center for Irish Studies Advisory Board.

Irish America magazine honored Herlihy at the Annual Healthcare & Life Sciences 50 in Nov. 2018. The Annual Healthcare & Life Sciences 50 “recognizes the excellence, performance, and extraordinary contributions of Irish-American and Irish-born leaders in fields including medical care, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, research and development, and life sciences venture capital.”

Herlihy, a professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, is founding Chief of the Critical Care Service at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and clinical staff of the Texas Heart Institute.

Herlihy’s parents hail from West Cork and the Dingle Peninsula. Born in Spain, he grew up in Maryland before enrolling at the University of Dallas for undergrad. He received his MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine and the Harvard Fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at The Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and was a staff member of the 98th General Army Hospital in Nuremberg, Germany during the Gulf War. He has served on the Center’s Advisory Board since 2009.

“Dr. Pat Herlihy has made a significant contribution to the University by bringing awareness of the Center for Irish Studies to those in the world of medicine and science in Houston and around the globe,” Lori Gallagher, JD, Center director, said. “One of his specific interests is in the contributions and lives of the Irish in Texas and the Irish American experience. The Center intends to expand the scope of its focus to attract students who can pursue research projects in that field. Pat brings first-hand knowledge about Ireland and the Irish, as well as insight and humor, to our board.”

Here's How to Purchase Tickets

To purchase a table for the Irish Gala, Click Here

To download an Underwriter Form, Click Here

For more information, contact the Center for Irish Studies Director Lori Gallagher at 713-525-3592 or email at IrishGala@stthom.edu