This article is from page 14 of the 2011-11-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
THE Clare Association in New York has named Ireland’s Consul General in New York, Noel Kilkenny, as its ‘Clareman of the Year’ for 2011, the second honour that he has picked up this year, having been given a Civic Reception by Kilrush Town Council in August.
The 59-year-old diplomat was honoured at the 123rd staging of the Clare Association annual ball in New York recently. “From the very start, Noel made his mark in the Irish and Irish-American communities in New York,” Clare Association president Catherine Hogan told The Clare People after presenting him with his award. “He stepped into his new position full force upon his arrival in New York just over a year ago. In a very short time, he has endeared himself to the people of New York, and the Clare Association takes great pride in the fact that they can claim him as one of our own.
“We are grateful to Noel for his dedication and support of the Irish and Irish-American communities and are proud to add the name of yet another great Clareman, Noel Kilkenny, to our honour roll this year,” she added.
Kilkenny began his career with the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1977, after an initial three-year stint in the Department of Justice following his graduation from UCD with a law degree. Since then his career has brought him all over the world, including various stints in Holland, China, Washington DC, Bosnia, London, Estonia – where he served as Irish Ambassador, Moldova and, most recently, New York, where he was appointed Irish Consul last October.