Meet our Team

Photo courtesy of Tom Dunn Photography

Meet the Irish Network Minnesota Board of Directors

Officers

Martie McMahon – President
Occupation: Martie works for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in the Accounting Services Department. Responsible for payroll and accounts payable. In addition, she has lead tours to Ireland, is an avid volunteer for the Irish Fair of Minnesota, travel writer for the Irish Gazette and taught a travel writing class.

Irish connection: Martie is Irish-American on her father’s side from County Clare.

Mary McFarland Brooks – Vice President
Occupation: Communications Manager for Minnesota Department of Transportation. Responsible for aeronautics, passenger rail, and civil rights communications and community engagement. In addition, has served as an adjunct professor in public speaking at Hamline University, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Irish connection: Mary is 100 percent Irish-American (4 corners are McFarland, Reagan, O’Hanlon & Farrell). Mary is the founding president of Irish Network Minnesota chapter. Serves on St. Patrick’s Association, founding member of Failte Minnesota and is editor of Irish Gazette Media, an Irish American publication and social media company.

Kathie Luby – Treasurer

Jane Hall – Secretary
Occupation: Retired former data research analyst with a career in health care – 9 year board member.

Irish Connection: Irish American ancestors on both sides of family.

Directors

James Elliott Brooks
Occupation: Founder of Irish Gazette Media, the largest Irish media in the Midwest. Brooks has an extensive background in brand journalism and has been a board member of numerous organizations in both Minnesota and North Dakota, where he was a US Congress candidate.

Irish connection: Jim has Irish ancestors on both his mother’s side, Elliott and McKone and his father’s side who hailed from Armagh. Jim has served on the St. Patrick’s Association and the Sons of St. Patrick Society among others. He serves as a spokesman for Irish issues throughout the Midwest on radio, television, print and social media.

Laurie Ingram McCrory
Occupation: Laurie is the principal art director and designer of Laurie Ingram Art + Design, an independent art design studio in St. Paul, Minnesota specializing in book cover design, book design, print collateral, and branding. Laurie stays active in the AIGA, Graphic Artists Guild, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota Book Publishers’ Roundtable, Bookbuilders of Boston, and Minnesota Bookbuilders. Laurie also serves on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Book Publishers’ Roundtable as Social Media Manager.

Irish connection: Laurie’s Irish background includes ancestors on her mother’s side (Houston) from County Tyrone. She loves everything Irish, and volunteers at various local Irish events. She is the proud mother of three boys, three grandchildren and currently resides in Saint Paul, MN.

Dan Gleeson

John Dingley

Carrie Finnigan

Katie McMahon

Occupation: Katie was the original lead singer in the Riverdance Show, touring the world for 4 years and leaving the show to raise her kids and has lived in Minnesota for the past 25 years. After leaving Riverdance, she established her own solo career as a recording and performing artist. She also provides musical instruction in Voice & Harp. You can find out more about her at KatieMcMahon.com.

Irish Connection: Katie was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. Her parents now live in County Kerry and Katie likes to spend as much time as possible there. Over the years she has steeped herself in Irish culture, in particular Irish music, of all genres and the literary arts.

Youth Directors

Amaya Cork

Rachel Craig

Occupation: Rachel is a 9th grader in Southwest High School and an aspiring singer and actor, having already toured the country professionally and performed in many different musical productions and plays.

Irish Connection: During Covid, Rachel spent a year in Ireland and attended a Gaelic speaking school. She has studied Irish Dance at Rince na Chroí for 5 years. She intends to spend some time in Ireland after she graduates and will perhaps attend college there.

Advisory Board of Directors