Phoenix Irish Honor O’Connor

On January 16, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was presented with the prestigious Anam Cara Award (Irish Soul Friend) from the Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix. Justice O’Connor was recognized for her outstanding career, long-term service to the community and her family’s Irish heritage. As the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice O’Connor is renowned worldwide. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and served the nation’s highest court for 25 years. Raised on a cattle ranch in Arizona, she now resides in Phoenix.
The Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix was established in 1998 and celebrates Irish culture, literature, music and history through the McClelland Irish Library (where the O’Connor family enjoyed viewing the O’Connor family genealogy) and numerous events.  The Center and Library are owned by the city of Phoenix and operated through a public-private partnership with the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation, Inc. a non-profit corporation.