Empathize with Oppressed, Irish 40 Under 40 Honorees are told

The 19th annual Irish 40 under 40 awards gala in New York City has been told immigrants to the U.S. today are facing the same obstacles and prejudices which were endured by the Irish who fled to America in the 19th Century.

And State Senator Pat Fahy told a full house ̄— which included honorees from Dallas, TX, Washington D.C., Portland, ME and Great Falls, MT — that her parents had battled to ensure their children could enjoy the American dream.

She said the experiences of her forebears fuelled her willingness to speak up in support of immigrant families being targeted by ICE.

Over 200 honorees and their supporters packed into Club 101 in Manhattan, where Fahy derided current U.S. immigration policy and the ICE "reign of terror".

Senator Pat Fahy addressing Irish 40 under 40 gala in New York on the Irish immigrant experience and why it must shape solidarity with latter-day beleaguered immigrant communities in the U.S. Honorees from across America attended the awards ceremony on Park Ave, NYC last night pic.twitter.com/m2MR5q9lUK
— Irish Echo Newspaper (@IrishEcho) February 28, 2026

The Senator, who is a prominent member of the American Irish Legislators Society in the Albany Legislature, said her parents believed education would secure success for their children. That conviction, she said, proved true: she and her siblings secured opportunities that had been unthinkable in the Ireland their ancestors left behind.

But the "beacon" in New York harbour that once drew millions to the US has dimmed for today’s immigrants, she said, describing “uncanny” parallels between the reception facing new arrivals now and the hostility that met Irish immigrants fleeing hunger and repression in the 19th century.

Congratulating the class of 2026, she urged the honorees not to forget communities now facing the same discrimination once directed at the Irish.

Also attending the Irish 40 under 40 were New York City Council Member Keith Powers, New Jersey Assemblyman Chris Tully and AOH President Seán Pender.