South Boston's Billy Higgins Receives Prestigious Tip O'Neill Irish Diaspora Award in Donegal, Ireland

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Award Winners (l-r): Billy Higgins, Caroleann Gallagher and David McCourt 
Photo Credit: Clive Wasson, Donegal County Council


Congratulations to Billy Higgins of South Boston, who was one of three recipients honored with the Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award in Buncrana, County Donegal in September.

Named for US Speaker of the House and US Congressman from Cambridge, Thomas P. ‘Tip’ O’Neill, whose ancestral roots are in Donegal, the annual award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to society, arts and culture, business and healthcare.

Along with Higgins, Caroleann Gallagher, attorney for the U.S. Supreme Court and David McCourt, Chairman of Granahan McCourt Capital and the Chairman of National Broadband Ireland, were also honored in 2024.

 

Tommy O'Neill Congratulates Billy Higgins. Photo Credit: Clive Wasson, Donegal County Council

Tom O’Neill, former Lt. Governor of Massachusetts and the son of Tip O’Neill, attended the ceremonies with his wife Shelly. “On behalf of the O’Neill family it is an honor to continue our support of these fantastic awards and I congratulate each awardee on their success in their careers to date,” O'Neill said.

Born and raised in South Boston, Higgins is a businessman and community leader renowned for his charitable work in Boston and Ireland. He is founder of the Southill Childrens Fund, which he created in 1985 to “encourage education, participation in sports and extra-curricular activities” for children in Southill, Limerick.

He also supports the education of children with special needs in Boston and Ireland and has supported the Ballaghderg Pre-School for Children with Special Needs in Donegal for many years. And he also supported youth soccer clubs in Ros Muc, County Galway, according to his friend, Boston City Paper Publisher Paul Feeney.

Higgins has received accolades in Boston as well. In 2014, he received the Golden Bridges Award from the Irish Echo Newspaper, and in 2015, the Quiet Leadership Award from the Pinch Foundation. He was the 2016 recipient of the Silver Key Award presented by the Charitable Irish Society.

A delegation of officials from Plymouth County also attended, including Plymouth County Commissioner Greg Hanley, Plymouth County Register Deeds John R. Buckley, Deputy Register of Deeds Tim White, Brockton City Council Jack Lally and Ninth Plymouth District Senator Michael D Brady.


Legendary politician Thomas P. 'Tip' O’Neill was born in North Cambridge, Massachusetts on December 9, 1912, the son of Thomas Philip O'Neill, Sr. and Rose Ann Tolan. His grandfather from Donegal emigrated in the 1840s during the Irish Famine.

See some of the Tip O'Neill landmarks in Boston and Cambridge. Massachusetts compiled by the Boston Irish Tourism Association.

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