We had a gorgeous afternoon at the Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel to celebrate St. Brigid’s Day. We saw many friendly faces, old and new, enjoyed a delicious lunch, and heard an inspiring talk from Erin Costello Wecker .
A $1000 donation to the Irish Immigration and Cultural Center
Celine Keneally was honored this week as the latest recipient of the Irish Consulate’s St. Brigid’s Day award. The consulate had the following to say about Celine and the IIPC.
IIPC provides advice, information, advocacy, referral and support, and assistance with housing, jobs, immigration, social services and family issues. Celine represents so many of the values that we spotlight during St. Brigid’s day through her commitment to community building, social welfare, and pastoral care.
The INBA raised $1000 for the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center in our Christmas Party Raffle, and Jessica got to present Celine with a check. We are proud of the INBA community that came together to raise this money
Thanks to Jennifer Chadwick and Micheál Smith from the Consulate General of Ireland, San Francisco for always connecting their networks, showing up, and being great supporters of the Irish Community!
Lunch in the stunning Garden Court
An inspiring talk about Pay Parity for Women
Dr. Costello Wecker is a Professor of English and Irish studies at the University of Montana. Her work on Kate Kennedy had entered our radar through the Irish Consulate, and we thought she would bring the perfect message for this new National Holiday.
Erin’s talk explored the lives of St. Brigid and Kate Kennedy, two remarkable women who challenged societal norms in different ways. St. Brigid, the patron saint of beer, sheep, and dairy farmers, was known for her humble miracles, boldness, generosity, and creativity. She held the most power of any woman in the Catholic Church at the time, and since.
Kate Kennedy was born in Meath and emigrated to America in 1849, eventually settling in San Francisco. As a teacher, she was not given the same pay as her male peers. She sued the state of California for pay discrimination, setting a precedent for other industries to bring lawsuits.
The talk highlighted the historical erasure of women’s contributions, particularly emotional labor, and the systemic obstacles to their recognition. Kennedy, the first woman to run for statewide office in California, faced deep-seated prejudice against the Irish and women, running 33 years before women won the right to vote.
The issue of pay parity remains critical—women still earn 70% of what men do in retirement, and true equality is not projected until 2088. Erin closed the talk with a call to action: honor the legacies of St. Brigid and Kate Kennedy by advocating for yourself and others, speaking up about salaries, and continuing the fight for gender equity.
From the INBA board to our attendees – Thank You for supporting the organization and the Irish Community in San Francisco
