Soon after it was established, the Irish American Cultural Institute realized the need to provide tangible assistance and recognition to Irish artists. In 1967, the IACI presented the first Butler Literary Award. Since that time an entire series of awards for Irish writers, artists, and cultural organizations has been established.

These prestigious prizes, selected by a panel of their peers and totaling over $25,000 annually, are awarded each year in Dublin to recognize achievement in art, poetry, prose, and heritages. Grants are also given in support of traditional music and crafts.

Interested in establishing an endowed award? Please contact the IACI.

The Butler Literary Awards
The senior award of the Irish American Cultural Institute, this annual honor was established in 1967 by Mr. Patrick Butler, a co-founder of the IACI. It was the first significant award made available to writers in the Irish language, by tradition it is alternated each year between writers in both of Ireland’s national languages. It has in its history honored the life achievement of more than fifty novelists, poets, essayists and biographers.

The O'Malley Art Award
This award recognizes and promotes Irish achievements in the visual arts, particularly those which have stimulated or guided other Irish artists. The award is given in the name of the family of the late Ernie O’Malley, who, in addition to his literary and patriotic activities, was also a notable art collector of Irish. The annual award was first presented in 1989.

The Heritage Award
Initially endowed by an anonymous donor in the West of Ireland, the Heritage Award reflects a conviction that history shapes and informs our daily life and should be made accessible to all. This award honors Irish efforts to interpret Irish history, and to promote an appreciation of its diversity, at the community level in Ireland. The Heritage Award is given annually. In recent years the support of the Heritage Council and Bord Fáilte has enabled IACI to increase the award to $5,000.

The Muriel Gahan Scholarship Grant
Since 1985 the IACI has presented an annual grant to the artisan judged best of show at the yearly Crafts Competition of the Royal Dublin Society. The award is named for Dr. Muriel Gahan of the RDS in recognition of her outstanding work encouraging the development of Irish crafts. It is open to all crafts, and is intended to further their professional education and development.

The Bernard Croke Memorial Traditional Music Award
Established in 1996 and named after former IACI Board member, the late Bernard Croke of Philadelphia.  This grant enables young Irish musicians from the Society of Uillean Pipers, Na Píobairí Uileann, to participate in the world renowned Willie Clancy Summer School. The students are chosen by Na Píobairí Uileann.

 

Past Special Awards and Grants
 

• The ESB Award for Outstanding Work by an Irish Musician Abroad granted to legendary Jazz Musician Louis Stewart.
   
• The Jerome Connor Centre at Annascaul, County Kerry $16,500
  
  
• The Field Day Anthology of Irish Literature $20,000
  
  
• The Modern Translation of the Bible into Irish $10,000
  
  
• The Premier of Patrick Cassidy's "Children of Lir" $25,000
  
  
• The Commission of the First Original Irish American
  Symphony at Westfield College in Massachusetts $15,000