Date: 16 Sept 2024
Caroleann Gallagher - Tip O'Neill Irish Diaspora Awardee 2024
The Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Awards return for 2024 to the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana on Friday, 27th September, from 7pm. Our next Awardee for 2024 to introduce to you is Arranmore Island’s Caroleann Gallagher.
Caroleann grew up on Arranmore Island, where she is the youngest of four children born to Islanders, Kathleen & Laurence Gallagher. Caroleann received her primary and secondary schooling on Arranmore and was part of the first 24 students to attend Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada when it opened its doors in 1990. Caroleann’s parents and many other Islanders had lobbied the State for twenty plus years for the provision of secondary education on the Island and Caroleann is a very proud first student of the now immensely successful Gairmscoil.
After her Leaving Certificate, Caroleann proceeded with her education at University College Galway where she obtained a B.A Hons Degree in Political Science and Legal Studies. She continued her post Bachelor’s education, obtaining her Law Degree also at UCG in 1998. From there, Caroleann was enrolled into The Law Society of Ireland’ s Apprenticeship Program which she completed under the guidance of Solicitors at Mullaney’s Solicitors, Sligo and she was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2004. Caroleann remained working as an assistant Solicitor with Mullaney’s in Sligo before moving to another law firm, Callan Tansey, who have offices in Sligo, Roscommon, and Dublin.
Following a chance encounter on a five-day break to Chicago, Caroleann met and fell in love with her Limerick born Husband, Patrick. After a short, long-distance relationship, that chance encounter ended up being one that changed the course of Caroleann’s future completely. In the Winter of 2008, Caroleann emigrated to Chicago and began her pursuit of her American Dream. As a fully qualified Solicitor with over five years of practice under her belt, Caroleann was eligible to sit for the Illinois State Bar Exam for admission as an Attorney to practice law in the State of Illinois. After some grueling years of dealing with the admission process and some tough months of studying, Caroleann was successful in the Bar Exam and admitted to practice as an attorney in May of 2011. Caroleann and Patrick married in July of that same year.
Caroleann’s career in law in the States has been primarily focused on personal injuries and those hurt by the negligence of others. She has an extensive practice of representing the victims of medical negligence and nursing home abuse and neglect as well as other catastrophic injuries that alter the course of her clients’ lives. Caroleann has a strong affinity for the working man and their families. Her Dad and three brothers have worked all over the world, as part of the legacy that is the Tunnel Tigers and as Caroleann married a construction worker, she is ever conscious of the devastating impact a catastrophic injury can have on a family. She joined her current firm in 2017, becoming a Partner in 2018 and in 2021, the former Dwyer Coogan became Coogan Gallagher.
Over her fifteen years of practice in American, Caroleann has secured millions of dollars for her injured clients and their families including a recent $3,000,000 verdict for the family of a woman who died after a routine heart procedure, a $2,000,000 settlement for a 21-year-old victim rear ended by a semi-truck and a $1,000,000 settlement for a young woman whose doctor failed to diagnose her breast cancer. Caroleann has been recognized as a Super Lawyer within her field of practice as well as a Leading Lawyer and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer with The National Trial Lawyers Association.
Caroleann and Patrick have two daughters, Ava who is almost 12 and Ana who recently turned 10. Showing her daughters the importance of dedication and a good work ethic is important to Caroleann as she credits her parents as instilling the same in her. Caroleann is active in her legal community and is the current Second Vice President of The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, which is the oldest and largest bar organization in Illinois. The Women’s Bar is made up of women lawyers who strive to support and assist each other in the practice of law. Caroleann will be the first Irish born Women’s Bar President in 2026 and her ascension to President is a testament to the hard work and dedication she has shown to the organization over the many years of her involvement.
Chicago is a diverse and vibrant community, steeped in affinity and friendship with the Irish. Caroleann emersed herself into the Irish American Community immediately on arrival in Chicago and is a very active member of many community-based organizations and programs. Keen to keep ties with their home, Caroleann and her Husband introduced their daughters at a very young age to GAA and they both now play Gaelic Football and Camogie for the Chicago Celtics GFC and Limerick Chicago Youth Hurling Club. Caroleann is a board member and the public relations officer of both clubs and also a board member and the PRO of The Chicago Youth Minor Board. Since 2019 the clubs have provided an opportunity for American kids to experience the ‘Cúl Camp’ experience offered to so many kids every Summer in Ireland. In 2024, there were 170 kids in attendance with over 20 coaches made up mostly of J1 students visiting Chicago for the Summer. Caroleann said, “Bringing Kellogg’s Cúl Camps to Chicago does not just happen; it has taken months of planning, endless phone calls, thousands of emails, and WhatsApp groups and messages, and above all a huge commitment of time and perseverance from an army of our club parents behind the scenes”.
Chicago GAA brings an immense amount of community and support to Caroleann and her family, and it has been a source of comfort to her on those days when the inevitable homesickness sets in. While Caroleann now calls Chicago her home, a little piece of her heart will always be in Arranmore.
In 2023, in an effort to give back and to recognize the immense positive effect Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada made on Caroleann, she initiated and launched The Coogan Gallagher Scholarship, which is a yearly scholarship that will be open to all Leaving Cert students of the Gairmscoil in Arranmore. The scholarship is based on an application and an essay where students lay out their involvement and leadership initiatives at school and in their communities and outline why they are deserving of the Scholarship. The Coogan Gallagher Scholarship is specifically not based on a student’s exam or test results as Caroleann recognizes that the grades a student gets do not reflect the overall person. The Scholarship will be available annually and will provide the chosen student with €3,000, to assist them as the embark on their new life after school. The second recipient of the Coogan Gallagher Scholarship was announced in June and Caroleann is very proud of the scholarship and hopes to be able to offer it to the Gairmscoil, for many years to come.
In May of this year Caroleann was in Washington to be sworn in as an attorney to the United States Supreme Court, a major highlight in Caroleann’s glittering professional career to date.
Donegal County Council is delighted to present the 2024 Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Awards which will take place at the esteemed Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana on Friday, 27th September, from 7pm.
Tickets now on sale for the 2024 Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Awards: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/tip-oneill-irish-diaspora-awards-2024-tickets-920659777177
