The only arts awards event in all of Irish America is back — with a determination to celebrate the very best of Irish arts and culture on the other side of the Covid crisis by hanging out our brightest colours.
"We battened down the hatches during Covid and leaned on the shoulders of our artists and musicians to get us through - and the Irish Echo tried to reciprocate their brilliance with two locked-down yet hugely inspirational Irish Echo Arts Awards events online," says Irish Echo publisher Máirtín Ó Muilleoir.
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"Of course, that virtual parallel universe meant we we were able to cast our new wide and engage with Irish American artists form Portland to, well, Portland.
"But now we are back and having survived the worst Covid could throw at us are adopting the theme 'Hang Out Your Brightest Colours' for our triumphant in-person awards gala on 29 April in New York."
Guest speaker at the event in Manhattan Manor (atop Rosie O'Grady's in Times Square) will be that great friend of Irish America in the NY State Legislature Assemblywoman Amy Paulin.
And now the search is on for those bright stars of Irish America whose endeavors have shone a path through Covid and continue to lift up the community.
Nominations are now open for groups, troupes, networks, academies, galleries and, of course, individuals who represent the very best of Irish America's aos dána. You can nominate online now.
Each honoree will receive a special medal and be invited to the gala dinner in New York while their achievements will be celebrated in a special Irish Echo supplement.
