Niamh Reilly
Where do you live? Sunnyside, Queens.
Current company and position? Chief Financial Officer at H&L Ironworks. A steel fabrication and installation construction company in midtown Manhattan.
First job and what it taught me? I worked in the local chip shop, Mac's Takeaway in Knockbridge Co Louth. It was my first introduction to the service industry. At the ripe age of 16, I was thrown into the deep, taking orders, cooking even and managing all different types of people and situations. It quickly taught me to be outgoing and energetic but also assertive when dealing with customers. Traits that I still carry in my current position today.
How do you embrace your Irish heritage? With the GAA! Over the past few years, I've completely emersed myself into the GAA community. From playing the game, to having varies roles on committees. My role over the past few years was chairperson for my beloved club Manhattan Gaels. A Gaelic Football club with both men's and ladies teams. Even though we are firstly a GAA club, the community stretches to socials nights, run clubs, trad nights and in the very near future we hope to have Irish language lessons. At every chance I get, I am recruiting for the club. Whether you have played your whole life or never even heard of the sport before, we welcome everyone and all levels. Being Irish is something special, and being part of the GAA community, no matter where your from, will always act as a home away from home. It's your family out here.
Something people would be surprised to know about me... Plays classical music on the piano.
Biography: Niamh hails from Knockbridge, Co Louth. She emigrated to New York in December of 2016, with the expectations of staying for a year. Now nine years later, she is still happily living in Sunnyside Queens. After a chance meeting on St Patrick's day, she reluctantly joined Manhattan Gaels in 2018 and hasn't looked back since. From playing to managing to chairing, whatever is needed she will do. While the GAA is her first love, she's involved with multiple charities. Co-organizing the Ashling Murphy walk in 2022, raising over $35,000 for Women's Aid, to volunteering and fundraising for Solace House.
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