Fitzpatrick 'Delightfully Surprised' By Honor

Irish hotelier John Fitzpatrick was "delightfully surprised and hugely honoured" to hear the news that he is to be awarded with an honorary OBE by the British Queen.

The award, announced by Sir Alan Collins, the British Consul General in New York, is in recognition of his contributions to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. 

He will receive his award from the British Ambassador, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, at an investiture ceremony to be held in Washington in the near future.

Mr. Fitzpatrick has been a passionate supporter of the peace process in Northern Ireland for quite some time.

He has been involved with the American Ireland Fund for 17 years and has been a board member since 1995. 

Mr. Fitzpatrick has very quietly supported all Northern Irish parties across the board to help make their visits to New York more productive.

Most significantly, he founded the Eithne and Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Foundation in 1993 to raise funds for Irish charities in memory of his late parents.

To date, the Foundation has raised over $1.3 million for distribution to charities through the American Ireland Fund.

Two of the primary beneficiaries of the Foundation's support have been the Corrymeela Reconciliation Centre in Northern Ireland and PeacePlayers International.

The Corrymeela Reconciliation Centre focuses on bringing people of diverse religious and political backgrounds together in the interest of peace.

The Foundation has helped fund several major projects for the Centre, including construction of the Centre's main house, the purchase of a motor coach used to transport program participants, and construction of a creative house for the village, a project currently underway.

PeacePlayers International is a grass roots organization which focuses on using the game of basketball to unite children from diverse backgrounds in conflict zones across the globe, including Northern Ireland.

Through the American Ireland Fund, The Fitzpatrick Foundation has contributed directly to support the many benevolant programs that PeacePlayers offers in the Belfast area.

In addition to these two organizations that contribute so much to the peace process, the Foundation also supports the Barretstown Gang Camp in the Republic of Ireland.

The Camp provides programs and support to children with serious illnesses and their families.

The Foundation has funded the construction of the Camp's outdoor children's theatre, as well as construction of a cottage built to house up to thirteen children visiting the Camp.

Mr. Fitzpatrick also supports the work of Baroness May Blood and the Integrated Education Fund, a financial foundation for the development and growth of integrated education in Northern Ireland.

Reached for comment, Mr. Fitzpatrick had this to say about the special honour: "I am of course very delighted, very proud and very humbled to receive this special recognition.

"It is an honour that I feel compelled to share with all of the wonderful people who contribute time and financial resources to the Foundation.

"The good things we support in Northern Ireland could not happen without them."