About the Gallagher Initiative

The Gallagher Initiative

The Gallagher Initiative is a response to the outrage experienced by many Irish Americans when they learned of the death of Tony Gallagher, a 72-year-old Irishman from County Mayo who died alone at his home in Queens in December 2008 and whose body wasn’t discovered for over a week.

The purpose of the Gallagher Initiative is to learn about how aging Irish Americans are coping.  We want to learn about what health services, social services, or other services are needed and wanted.  We are especially interested in talking with older adults who are living alone or are isolated. The survey is being conducted by professors from Hunter College and Fordham University under the auspice of the Fund for the Advancement of Social Services.  If you volunteer to participate in this survey, you will be interviewed by a trained interviewer at a time and location that you choose.  The interview will be private and confidential.

You may participate in the survey if:

·       You or your parents or any of your grandparents were born in Ireland

·       You live in New York City (any of the five boroughs)

·       You are age 55 years or older

Whether you are in excellent health or poor health, working or retired, have recently immigrated or are second generation, we hope you will considering participating in the survey.

Participants will receive a FREE tote bag and resource pamphlets upon completion of the interview.

To learn more about the survey or if you or someone you know would like to participate in the survey, please call:  917-575-7158 or email Gallagher.initiative@gmail.com