The Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago
By Irish Echo Staff
The 12th Annual iBAM! Gala Awards presentation in support of the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago took place virtually on Friday, December 11.
iBam is the Irish Books, Arts and Music Awards when the acronym is unravelled.
The awards, in conjunction with the Irish American News, honors the best in Irish heritage and culture.
This year’s awardees, said a release, "represent a stellar class of individuals including: Person of the Year: Seamus Mallon (RIP) deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2001 and Deputy Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party from 1979 to 2001."
Other winners were in Music: Pete St. John; author of “Fields of Athenry,” “Dublin in the Rare Auld Times,” “The Kerryman,” and many more. Literature: playwright John B. Keane (RIP) and his son Billy Keane; a columnist in Ireland, and author of seven books. Performing Arts: Tony Award winning Actress Betty Buckley, a TV, film, and stage star with 16 albums to her credit. Visual Arts: Chicagoan, Barry Butler, an award winning photographer whose pictures grace the pages of the 2021 WGN Calendar.
The winner in the Media/Journalism category was Echo editor Ray O’Hanlon. Person of the Year honors went to Peggy Murphy, longtime volunteer at the non-profit Heritage Center.
More at www.ibamchicago.com
