Tribute to top Irish Americans overshadowed by legacy of bombing

This time last year, the annual top-50 tribute to Irish Americans in investment and banking was held in the Windows on the World restaurant on top of the World Trade Centre in New York.

Three of those who attended the event died in the Twin Towers on September 11th. They were all members of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods: Mr Joseph Lenihan, executive vice-president; Mr Chris Duffy, son of company chief executive Mr John Duffy; and Mr Joseph Berry, chairman.

That made this year's ceremony, held by Irish America magazine in Mutual of America headquarters on Park Avenue, a poignant affair. More than 100 representatives of the financial world gave a standing ovation to Chris Duffy's father as he accepted an award.

"This tragedy hit the Irish on Wall Street very hard," said Irish America founding publisher Mr Niall O'Dowd. "Firms such as Cantor Fitzgerald, Keefe, Bruyette and many others were decimated, yet have come back in a way that makes us all proud."

Mr Don Keough, chairman of investment bank Allen & Co and former president of Coca-Cola, said Wall Street had taken a beating since September 11th but the market would come bouncing back. "Our fundamentals are still there and our determination is too," he stated.

Four Irish-American brothers prominent in the US financial world were honoured this year. They were Mr Peter Quick, president of the American Stock Exchange; Mr Christopher Quick, chief executive Fleet Specialist Inc; Mr Leslie Quick the third, chairman and chief executive of Fleet Securities; and Mr Thomas Quick, vice-chairman of Quick & Reilly/Fleet Securities.

In a keynote address, Mr Thomas Quick said that Irish Americans were among the victims, rescuers and rebuilders at Ground Zero, "and I assure you, Irish Americans will be prominent among those who work to restore peace and justice in the world".

The father of the four Quick brothers, Mr Leslie Quick Jr, was the founder of Quick & Reilly, which was bought by Fleet Financial Services in 1997 for $1.6 billion (€1.59 billion). He was a prominent philanthropist.

Their great-grandfather, Pop Killroy, emigrated from Galway in the 1880s and worked as a New York City harbour patrolman, while operating a speakeasy on Staten Island. "He stocked his bar with booze he got from shaking down boats that came into the harbour," said Mr Quick .

Financial services provided an avenue to achievement for Irish immigrants, he stated.