Champion of Irish American Cultural Relations Dies at Age 89
ST. PAUL, Minnesota - Dr. Eoin McKiernan, the Irish-American academic who founded the Irish American Cultural Institute and dedicated his life to fostering cultural ties between Ireland and the United States, has died at the age of 89.
McKiernan died on July 18 at a nursing home in St. Paul, Minnesota, following a lengthy illness. McKiernan was preceded in death by his wife, Jeannette, and is survived by their nine children, Deirdre, Kevin, Brendan, Nuala, Ethna, Fergus, Grania, Gillisa and Liadan, and many grandchildren, great_grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Born in New York City in 1915 to a mother who was originally from Lahinch, County Clare, McKiernan was renowned on both sides of the Atlantic for promoting Irish language and culture. In 1964 he founded the Irish American Cultural Institute that became the main charitable organization funding arts and cultural exchanges between the United States and Ireland.
Among his other accomplishments McKiernan established Irish Books and Media to bring Irish_published literature to U.S. readers; Irish Educational Services, which supports Irish_language schools in Ireland; and the first American Journal of Irish studies, Eire_Ireland.
In addition to honorary doctorates from St. Thomas, Marist College and the National University of Ireland, he was awarded a life membership in the Royal Dublin Society, an honour never previously granted to an American in 253 years. He was also awarded the JFK Gold Medal of Ancient Order of Hibernians.
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