The O'Brien Clan Foundation

The O’Brien Clan Mardi Gras Banquet 2007

Hotel Portofino and Yacht Club

Redondo Beach, California

The O’Brien Clan and friends gathered for the first ever O’Brien Clan Foundation fundraising event, on February 20, 2007, at a Mardi Gras themed banquet held in honor of Sir Conor, “The O’Brien” Prince of Thomond. and Chief of the Name, who flew in from County Clare, Ireland to join the distinguished guests in the Bayview Ballroom of the famed Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club. Peter and Margaret O’Brien of the O’Brien Clan of Torrance joined James O’Neill O’Brien, President of the South Bay Chapter of the O’Brien Clan as hosts and hostess of the gala and raffle that raised thousands of dollars for the O’Brien Clan Foundation.

The attendees pictured above with the Brian Boru Millenium Banner included from left to right: Kory Khaledi, Cathy Khaledi, Peter R. O’Brien, Kilian Tracy, Heather O’Brien, Erma Jean Tracy, Charlene O’Brien, James O’Neill O’Brien, April O’Brien, Wendy O’Brien, Sir Conor “The O’Brien”, Margaret O’Brien, Ray O’Brien, Kelly O’Brien, Michael McMahon, Miriam Seehausen, Scott Seehausen.

Peter R. and Margaret O’Brien of the O’Brien Clan

of Torrance, California

When word reached these shores that The O’Brien was planning a visit to the United States along with his lovely and talented daughter, Hon. Lucia O’Brien, who was attending acting classes in Hollywood, the idea of holding a banquet in their honor was first suggested by the President of the South Bay Chapter of the O’Brien Clan, James O’Neill O’Brien. “After The O’Brien accepted our invitation, my first call was to Peter R. O’Brien of the O’Brien Clan of Torrance.” said James O’Neill O’Brien, who knew that the experience, enthusiasm and charisma of the retired petroleum industry executive and entrepreneur would be the key to turning a simple festive banquet into a successful fundraising event. “Peter O’Brien is very well known in philanthropic circles.” he added, knowing of the huge sums Peter helped raise to build Torrance Memorial Hospital. “You need a lottery to raise funds” he advised, so James, hearing the voice of wisdom, immediately appointed him Chairman of the fundraising raffle, whose prize winning tickets were to be drawn at the banquet. In the following days commitments for prizes from The O’Brien himself, Mike O’Brien, the O’Brien Clan webmaster, and Bart O’Brien, of the O’Brien Family Vineyards in Napa, California, were made so that a raffle featuring a stay at Thomond House, a bronze shield with the O’Brien Coat of Arms, and a case of wine from the O’Brien Family Vineyards could be offered as prizes.

The Prize Table

Peter then set out to design and order the printing of the raffle tickets as well as the flyers advertising both the Mardi Gras Banquet and the fundraising raffle. Additionally, Peter spent many hours of his time and several hundred of his own dollars in efforts to solicit corporate sponsorship of the banquet in the form of advertising to appear in a banquet program.

Peter R. O’Brien posing proudly in the lobby between Kelly O’Brien and April O’Brien, his beautiful grand daughters.

Our Peter R. O’Brien, of the O’Brien Clan of Torrance is the same distinguished gentleman known nationally for his motivational speaking on behalf of Alcoholics Anonymous, an organization he has supported with all of his heart and soul for over thirty years. In recognition of his many achievements and selfless support of the O’Brien Clan Foundation, Peter was invited by The O’Brien to join the Foundation’s Board of Directors at the annual meeting of the Board, held this year at the Hotel Portofino and Yacht Club.

James O’Neill O’Brien

On the evening of the 20^th of February guests arriving for the Mardi Gras Banquet were greeted in the lobby of the Hotel Portofino by James O’Neill O’Brien, who in typical New Orleans fashion, presented each of the attendees with a string of green beads and an invitation to “join our crew” for the festive occasion about to be held nearby in the Portofino’s Bayview Ballroom. In all, two dozen O’Briens and friends traveled from as far away as

Ireland and as nearby as Redondo Beach to honor the Chief of the O’Brien Clan, Sir Conor, “The O’Brien”.

Scott and Miriam Seehausen are greeted by Peter R. O’Brien

Kory and Cathy Khaledi of Palos Verdes, California

Wendy O’Brien, who attended the Brian Boru Millennium Festival in 2002 gets reacquainted with The O’Brien at the lobby reception.

Ray O’Brien, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor of the University of California at Riverside, is welcomed by Peter R. O’Brien, of the O’Brien Clan of Torrance, California at the reception in the lobby of the Hotel Portofino.

After James O’Neill O’Brien had finished distributing the two dozen strings of green Mardi Gras beads to the assembled guests, he led the procession from the lobby of the hotel to the nearby Bayview Ballroom, where a lavish, four course meal had been prepared, and was going to be served at a grand banquet table to the accompaniment of heavenly music by renowned harpist, Pamela Brown.

The Mardi Gras Banquet Table

Arturo, “El Capitan,” welcomes the O’Briens and friends of the O’Brien Clan Foundation to the Bayview Ballroom.

Harpist Extraodinaire, Pamela Brown

Erma Jean Tracy is charmed by Peter R. O’Brien

The Reception in the Hotel Portofino Lobby

Ray O’Brien and Charlene O’Brien discussing the

Importance of Being O’Brien

Cathy Khaledi of Palos Verdes and Kilian Tracy of Santa Ana

The O’Brien addressing the distinguished banquet guests.

After the guests had taken their places around the O’Brien Clan Mardi Gras Banquet table, James O’Neill O’Brien rose to welcome them on behalf of the Board of Directors of the O’Brien Clan Foundation and to introduce the guest of honor, Sir Conor, The O’Brien, Prince of Thomond, Baron of Inchiquin, and Chief of the Name, whom he joked “had more titles than a library.” The O’Brien thanked the attendees for joining him at an historic event; the first ever gathering of the O’Brien Clan and friends in the United States in support of the O’Brien Clan Foundation, which was founded by The O’Brien on St. Patrick’s Day in 1994 as an organization “by and for O’Briens,” whose membership, he said, “is a birthright, unlike other Irish Clan organizations that charge their members annual dues to belong.”

The O’Brien addressing the banquet guests.

The O’Brien went on to pay tribute to Peter R. O’Brien and James O’Neill O’Brien, the organizers of the banquet and raffle, for their time and efforts to make the evening a delight for the participants as well as a precedent setting success for the O’Brien Clan Foundation. In discussing the history of the Foundation The O’Brien paid special tribute to the late, great Tom Tracy, “Baron of Bunratty” whose generosity and support was essential at the founding of the organization. Erma Jean Tracy, widow of Tom Tracy, and her lovely daughter, Kilian received a spirited ovation from the guests in memory of the grand Irish gentleman whose passion for, and support of peace in Ireland made possible the historic Good Friday Agreement.

Erma Jean Tracy, The O’Brien, and Kilian Tracy

O’Brien Clan Mardi Gras Banquet

At the conclusion of the O’Brien’s remarks the Hotel Portofino’s staff began pouring wines and serving a lavish four course feast that began with a first course of crab cakes, followed by Caesar Salad, a main course of Filet Mignon, with a desert trio of Chocolate dipped strawberry, Chocolate Marquis Cake, and Fresh Seasonal Fruit Tart served with Champagne to finish. During the entire banquet Pamela Brown, a renowned harpist serenaded the O’Brien Clan Foundation’s honored guests with her extensive repertoire of Irish favorites as well as timeless classic compositions, including the specially requested theme from the motion picture “Titanic” “Heart Will Go On.” Good food, fine wine, excellent service, elegant people, sparkling conversation, and beautiful music all combined to make the Mardi Gras Banquet a night to remember for all in attendance.

Harpist Pamela Brown and The O’Brien

Peter R. O’Brien and granddaughter Kelly O’Brien

After desert Raffle Chairman Peter R. O’Brien took the floor to begin the drawing of winning tickets, assisted by his beautiful granddaughter, Kelly O’Brien, who graciously took the place of The O’Brien’s lovely and talented daughter, Hon. Lucia O’Brien, who could not attend the banquet due to a schedule conflict with her acting class. The winners included both those who attended the Mardi Gras Banquet, as well as those across the country and around the world who did not attend, but chose to support the Foundation anyway, through the purchase of raffle tickets. In a fine example of the “luck of the Irish” Kelly O’Brien drew her own ticket as well as one for Mary O’Brien of

Palm Desert, CA for the raffle’s tenth prize, a Family Tree DNA Certificate for a DNA test.

Heather O’Brien

Ninth Prize in the Raffle, a plot of land in Ireland was shared by three winners: April O’Brien of Gardena, CA, Michael O’Brien of Cathedral City, CA, and Kelly O’Brien of Gardena, CA. Eight Prize, a book about Brian Boru, the eleventh century High King of Ireland, from whom all O’Briens descend was won by Charlene O’Brien of Sherman Oaks, CA, the widow of the late Gen. William O’Brien and mother of the brilliant and beautiful Heather O’Brien. A book entitled “Banana Skins” by Donough O’Brien, The O’Brien’s cousin, was the seventh place prize which was won by Jared Anderson of Fargo, North Dakota. Another book by Donough O’Brien entitled “Fringe Benefits” was won by Catherine Kelly of Long Beach, CA as the raffle’s sixth place winner. In fifth place was Michael McMahon, who won a rare copy of “Hibernia” magazine, featuring an article about the O’Briens that The O’Brien personally autographed for the lucky winner. Charlene O’Brien struck gold for a second time wining the fourth prize, another book for her Irish library, “The Origin and History of the O’Brien Clan” by John O’Donoghue, republished by Martin Breen and available for purchase on the O’Brien Clan website.

Peter R. O’Brien holding the “Origin and History of the

O’Brien Clan” by John O’Donoghue, won by Charlene O’Brien

Third place in the raffle was a case of wine from Bart and Barbara O’Brien’s O’Brien Family Vineyard in Napa, CA that was won by Jeffery O’Brien of Pearland, TX. Bart and Barbara also sent a three liter bottle of their famous “Seduction” wine as a gift to The O’Brien, which he then donated to the Foundation for the auction which followed the raffle to cap a very successful fundraising evening.

The O’Brien and the Bottle!

O’Brien Coat of Arms on a pounded copper shield.

Sean O’Brien, of O’Brien County, Iowa could not attend the banquet in person, but he was there in spirit, even while serving his country in Afghanistan. Both the gratitude of our Clan and Country, as well as the copper shield with our Coat of Arms, goes out to a brave warrior son of Brian Boru as the Second Prize in our first annual fundraising raffle. The Grand Prize, a stay at Thomond House, the official residence of The O’Brien, and seat of the O’Brien Clan, was won by Ed Strobel of Palos Verdes, CA. Ed, who also did not attend the Mardi Gras Banquet, expressed delight upon receiving the news that he had won the Grand Prize. His first call was to his travel agent, who is modifying the itinerary for a planned European trip to include a few days in Ireland, and a couple at Thomond House on the Dromoland Castle estate in County Clare. Congratulations to Ed and all the other winners!

Erma Jean Tracy choosing the Grand Prize winning raffle ticket from a bowl held by Peter R. O’Brien, next to The O’Brien.

Immediately following the conclusion of the raffle drawing, the auction of a three liter bottle of O’Brien Family Vineyard’s “Seduction”, and postage stamps specially issued for the Brian Boru Millennium, and postmarked in Kilaloe, County Clare, the Birthplace of Brian Boru. The stamps were sold to the winning bidders; Erma Jean Tracy, Cathy Khaledi, and Charlene O’Brien. Kory Khaledi of Palos Verdes, CA made the winning bid for the wine, even though he does not drink! Thank you all for your generous support!

The O’Brien and Ray O’Brien

Heather O’Brien, The O’Brien, and Charlene O’Brien

The O’Brien

For the first time in history, the O’Brien Clan and friends gathered in the United States to honor the Head of the O’Brien Clan, Sir Conor, The O’Brien, Prince of Thomond, Baron of Inchiquin, and Chief of the Name at a lavish fundraising banquet, raffle, and auction to benefit the scholarship programs of the O’Brien Clan Foundation. The event, sponsored by the Board of Directors of the O’Brien Clan Foundation, and organized by the South Bay Chapter of the O’Brien Clan and the O’Brien Clan of Torrance, CA will not only serve by itself to advance the goals of the O’Brien Clan and it’s Foundation, but the banquet will also serve as an example and as a challenge to the ninety other O’Brien Clan chapters around the world to take it upon themselves to organize fundraising gatherings of their own which will benefit the O’Brien Clan Foundation. Across the decade of centuries since our most illustrious ancestor, High King Brian Boru, first unsheathed his sword against the enemies of peace and prosperity in Ireland the O’Briens have maintained themselves as one of the most dynamic and powerful forces in Gaeldom. Under the enlightened leadership of Brian Boru’s current successor, Sir Conor, “The O’Brien”, Prince of Thomond, the O’Briens all around the world are paving the way toward a new millennium in Ireland during which the our royal and ancient Clan will reassert itself in the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the land of our forefathers. The question remains what role in this noble effort each of us will choose for ourselves. Either we can patiently wait for the slow, inevitable process to work itself out over generations, or we can become actively involved to hasten the birth of a new and more beautiful Ireland during our lifetimes. If Brian Boru were alive today he would be in the front rank. If the spirit of Brian Boru is alive today in the hearts and minds of his worthy descendants then it is we O’Briens who must take our places in the front ranks in the struggle for peace and justice. Promoting peace in Ireland is one of the main goals of the O’Brien Clan Foundation. Support for the Foundation is support not only for scholarship, but also for peace in Ireland. The next step is up to you!