[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 12, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN CELEBRATION OF SHEILA MURPHY CRAWFORD

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 12, 2008

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Sheila 
Murphy Crawford. Thirty years ago, Sheila Murphy Crawford founded the 
Murphy Irish Arts center, which she established as a non-profit to 
support Irish cultural activities. She began in 1978 with 35 students. 
Under her guidance as director of the center, she currently has more 
than 250 students, ranging in age from 5 to 30.
  In 2006, Crawford's spectacular choreography took third place at the 
2006 World Championships of Irish Dancing in Belfast. Her dancers have 
earned very high rankings in many other national and international 
competitions. Among many of her other honors, she earned the highly 
desirable position of adjudicator of the world governing organization 
for Irish Dance, An coimistun le Rinici Gaeltica.
  As a teenager, Crawford maintained the Irish Cultural Garden in 
Rockefeller Park. She later went on to become the director of the 
organization that oversees the verdant spot in 1995. For the past 8 
years, she has also served as vice president of the Cultural Garden 
Federation of Cleveland. Currently, Crawford is heading a project to 
refurbish the Irish Garden.
  Crawford's outstanding commitment to sharing Ireland's rich cultural 
traditions and values goes far beyond Irish dancing. She has been a 
five time president of a religious and cultural organization that 
raises funds for charity, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. In 
1993, she was named Hibernian of the Year.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing Sheila 
Murphy Crawford's significant contributions to preserving and sharing 
Irish culture with the community.

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