[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 206 (Monday, December 31, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1741-E1742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING RAY O'HANLON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 31, 2018

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, the importance of a free and open press 
cannot be overstated, especially in our local communities. I am very 
fortunate to represent a district that is covered by the Irish Echo, an 
outstanding local newspaper, which is led by my friend and one of this 
year's Ancient Order of Hibernians' honorees, Ray O'Hanlon.
  As Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have had 
the pleasure of working with Ray for many years on a wide variety of 
topics, including Irish-American issues which have always been 
particularly close to my heart.
  Ray is the editor of the New York-published Irish Echo. A native of 
Dublin who worked for

[[Page E1742]]

the Irish Press newspaper group before moving to the United States in 
1987, Ray has reported from three continents in a news career spanning 
39 years.
  In addition to his work as a reporter and editor, Ray has been a 
frequent contributor to U.S., Irish, and British media outlets 
reporting on Ireland, Irish-American affairs, and Anglo-Irish 
relations. He has appeared on CBS 60 minutes, ABC World News Tonight, 
and the Lehrer News Hour on PBS. He has also been interviewed on RTE, 
BBC and ITV, both television and radio.
  A prolific writer, Ray's book, ``The New Irish Americans'' (Roberts 
Rinehart, 1998) was the recipient of a Washington Irving Book Award. 
``The South Lawn Plot,'' his first fiction work, was published in 2011 
by Boston-based Gemma Media publishers. Ray is currently working on a 
new book on Irish immigration that will have a particular focus on the 
1965 Immigration Reform and Nationality Act. A graduate of University 
College Dublin, Ray lives with his wife Lisa, a native of Danville, 
Illinois, in Ossining, New York. They have three grown children: Kate, 
Liz and Jack.
  Ray O'Hanlon has accomplished a great deal over a long and 
distinguished career. He is most deserving of this wonderful 
recognition from AOH. Congratulations to Ray and I thank him for all he 
continues to do on behalf of our community.

                          ____________________