TRIBUTE TO JOHN WILLIAM O'BEIRNE -- [FROM THE IRISH ECHO, SEPT. 19, 1990] (Extension of Remarks - November 02, 1990)

[Page: E3703]

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HON. THOMAS J. MANTON

in the House of Representatives

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1990

[FROM THE IRISH ECHO, SEPT. 19, 1990]

John O'Beirne, who died on Sept. 5, was a remarkable man. A distinguished 30-year career in the FBI would have been enough alone to establish that fact. But there was much more to this man.

Extremely proud of his Irish heritage he involved himself in promoting and extolling that heritage in the Washington, D.C. area and far beyond.

He had a long affiliation with the Glee Club of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, was a member of the board of the Washington St. Patrick's Parade and a member of the American Ireland Fund.

But it was with the American Foundation for Irish Heritage that he was most successful in bringing to the attention of Americans of all backgrounds the many contributions of the Irish to our country.

Assisted by his colleagues in the foundation, John O'Beirne was responsible for getting the House of Representatives to designate March 1991 as `Irish American Heritage Month.' This has never happened before and it took an enormous amount of work to accomplish.

Those who knew John O'Beirne were not surprised that he got that job done. He didn't just talk about his Irish heritage, he worked to promote it and he set an example for all of us to follow.

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