Last updated on March 24, 2023
By Alana Loftus
When Aoife Griffin moved from her home county of Roscommon to Boston in 2021, she was looking for the feeling of community she left behind.
“It can feel very lonely leaving home,” she said in her speech. “The community of people that brought me up in this country has been unbelievable.”
Her transition into American life was made smoother by a mass of welcoming arms- females who were on their own professional and personal journeys, sharing in the desire for comfort and security provided by a girl gang.
And so, Mná Mheiriceá was born (Phonetically: Men-Ah Veri-cah). Directly translated to, The Women of America, its name is a nod to their Irish heritage, while looking forward to the future of what opportunity the United States holds for women like them. Their tagline, “All it is to be a woman,” reflects their intentions for the network; to nurture, mentor and support women from all backgrounds, helping them to reach their fullest potential.
The women’s network is a self-proclaimed “convener and resource for the new graduate, the mother, and the executive who understands that it is not just raising a child that takes a village but raising ourselves as well.”
The board is made up of four members, Martina Curtin, Co-Founder and President, Aoife Griffin, Co-Founder and Vice President, Megan Greeley, Co-Founder and Treasurer and Niamh Shuman. On the night of the official launch, they announced their newest board member, Tríona Heyes. They also thanked their generous sponsors- Mass Bay Movers, Invest Northern Ireland and MFlynn Jewellers- who donated a pair of earrings which were raffled off to a lucky attendee.
All of the esteemed board members wore the color red, to represent the courage and boldness they want Mná Mheiriceá to exhibit. The launch began with some words from President Martina Curtin, who also serves as the President of the Irish Cultural Centre of Boston.
“The mission of Mná Mheiriceá is to create an intentional continuation of the legacy Irish women have built in America since their first arrival as an enterprising, independent and future oriented community.”
The board announced their 2023 calendar of events which includes a variety of wellness events and networking opportunities that take place over the next several months. A detailed list of these events is available on their website, where users have the ability to subscribe to be kept up to date.
Martina Curtin left the audience with a famous and relevant Irish proverb- “Ní neart go cur le chéile”, which translates to “there is no strength without unity.”
