The Embassy of Ireland in Washington D.C. is pleased to invite submission of nominations for the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad. 

  

The awards are primarily aimed at Irish citizens, those entitled to Irish citizenship and persons of Irish descent, who have made a sustained and distinguished service to Ireland or Irish communities abroad.  All nominations will be considered by a High Level Panel based in Ireland, which will in turn make recommendations to the Government in respect of no more than 10 individuals in any one year. It is expected that the first awards will be presented by the President of Ireland in October/ November 2012.

  

Commenting on the announcement, Ambassador Michael Collins said: 

  

"This initiative allows Ireland to give special recognition to those who have given distinguished service to Ireland or the Irish community abroad. It is obviously important that we do so, in view of the extraordinary contribution of our global family and the interest, generosity and devotion of so many members of that family towards Ireland and its future and towards our people, at home and abroad."

  

Nominations should be submitted to the Embassy's Press & Information Section, for receipt by no later than 5 p.m. US EST on Monday May 21st 2012 and may be sent either by regular mail or via the following e-mail address: washingtonembassy@dfa.ie.

  

Further details are available via the Embassy's website.

 

 

Irish pianist Thérèse Fahy will perform a celebration of Claude Debussy's 150th Birthday.

 

Saturday, April 28 at 8 pm

Complete Debussy Préludes

Free: pay-as-you-can admission

Post-concert cake and wine reception with Irish music by Lilt: Tina Eck, Irish wooden flute and Keith Carr, Irish bouzouki.

 

Friday, April 27 at 7 pm

Piano Master Class

Free & open to the public

  

Both events take place at:

Westmoreland Congregational Church

1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda, MD. Further information here.