Three leading Bostonians of Irish ancestry were honored last Friday (Oct. 28) at a luncheon before an audience of 350 guests at the Seaport Hotel in Boston’s Seaport district. 

Legendary Boston College hockey coach Jerry York, the developer and philanthropist Jon Cronin, and Irish Pastoral Centre Executive Director Mary Swanton of Dorchester were recognized for their achievements in Boston’s Irish community, joining more than 36 other contemporaries in a “Boston Irish Hall of Honors.” 

Ms. Swanton and Mr. York gave stirring acceptance speeches; Mr. Cronin was unable to attend due to a family medical issue, and his remarks were delivered by a colleague, Michael Kineavy.

Joseph R. Nolan Jr, president and CEO of Eversource Energy, chaired a committee of business and community leaders who organized the event, which is sponsored annually by BostonIrish.com and Boston Irish Magazine, the region’s leading chronicler of all things Irish American. 

“Boston Irish Honors recognizes and tells the stories of remarkable people who share a Boston Irish immigrant heritage, to celebrate their exemplary endeavors in public service, business and community leadership,” said Ed Forry, Boston Irish Magazine publisher and co-founder of the Dorchester Reporter. “The program acknowledges the special lifetime achievements of these individuals and families who exemplify the very best of our Irish values, legacies, and traditions.

 “Boston Irish Honors is dedicated to celebrating the heritage of Boston’s Irish,” Forry said. “But the common denominator— as it has been for the almost 40 Boston Irish families and individuals we’ve highlighted since that inaugural event— is not just their ancestry in Ireland; it’s the way these special people remain connected to those roots and honor their forebears by exhibiting compassion, respect and generosity to people of all backgrounds who have followed their lead in carving out a life in a new land.

“Boston has always been a city of immigrants. We Irish are central to that story, of course,” he added. “And we hope that in telling our stories we might propel and inspire our fellow Bostonians, no matter their place of birth or station in life. After all, we are all immigrants, or children or grandchildren of ancestors who took that great leap to establish their homes in this, the most Irish of American cities, in this, the greatest country in the world.” 

Swanton, who took charge at the Adams Village-based IPC in 2019, has led the growth of the organization, which was founded in 1987 to assist new arrivals from Ireland. The group recently moved into new quarters at 540 Gallivan Blvd. Swanton accepted the award on behalf of her team of staff and volunteers, including Fr. Dan Finn and Della Costello, who presented the award to Swanton at Friday’s luncheon.