Banjo Burke Memorial Fund

Bridget D. Burke

Bridget comes from a region of rolling hills in Southern Tier New York lovingly dubbed West o' Clare by descendants of the Irish soldiers and laborers who settled the region during the early and mid nineteenth century.  They got that far and were so reminded of the hills of home that they had to settle there.  Bridget developed an avid interest in the traditional music and culture of Ireland during twenty two years of marriage with Joe Banjo Burke.  She accompanied and sang with Joe for several years.  But she is a biochemist by training, with a Masters degree from New York University.  She has six years of experience in the field of clinical research, having worked for Norwich-Eaton Pharmaceuticals, Ives Laboratories, and Omnicare Clinical Research.  She has participated in all four phases of clinical research in various capacities, including protocol and case report development, investigator recruitment, study initiation, on-site monitoring, and writing interim and final reports.  She actively participated in the preparation of two FDA submissions: the New Drug Application for Cordarone and the efficacy submission for Pepto-Bismol.

Donal Gallagher

Donal comes from the hills of Donegal, and has been a well-known figure in Irish circles in the metropolitan New York and Catskills regions for over thirty years.  He has provided a market for Irish artists and craftsmen: metalsmiths, woodcarvers, hand-knitters and writers, and has facilitated the careers of many excellent musicians.   He is a strong supporter of Donegal football.  Donal has participated in the organization and development of many festivals and events.  He was the president of the Michael J. Quill Irish Culture and Sports Center in East Durham, NY from 1987 to 1991 and was also a founding Director of the Center.

Donald S. Higgins, MD

Dr. Higgins is a Board Certified neurologist affiliated with Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center of Albany Medical Center.  He received his doctorate in medicine from the State University of New York at Stonybrook (1987), completed neurology training at University of Michigan (1992), and fellowship in the Movement and Inherited Neurologic Disorders Unit at the University of Rochester (1994).  He is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at the Albany Medical College, having previously been a member of the neurology faculty at the Ohio State University.  Throughout his career of almost twenty years, he has maintained an active clinical practice and sustained involvement in clinical and basic research in movement disorders.   Dr. Higgins has authored/co-authored articles and chapters related to Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders.  He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, Movement Disorder Society, The Parkinson's Study Group, and a number of additional professional organizations. Dr. Higgins is currently participating in multiple clinical studies in Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, and Tourette Syndrome.

Myron Bretholz

Myron is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and has been involved with Irish music over the past quarter century as a musician and recording artist (bodhran and other percussion), producer, master of ceremonies, and writer.  He also teaches bodhran at workshops throughout the USA and Canada, including having been involved with the Catskills Traditional Irish Arts Week since its inception.  In 2000, he was honored to be the recipient of an Individual Artist Grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.

William Meehan, MD

William Meehan, MD is a doctor of pediatric emergency medicine at Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.  Originally from Connecticut, Bill has always had a keen interest in Irish traditional music.  It was his choice of Boston College for undergraduate studies that exposed him to the vibrant traditional music scene that was in Boston during the early 1990s.  He was one of the first students to study tin whistle in classes offered by the Irish studies department of Boston College under the directorship of Seamus Connolly.  He studied tin whistle and concert flute under Meabh Ni Fhuarthain, and later, Jimmy Noonan.  He decided to stay in Boston for post-graduate work at Harvard Medical School.  He continued his study of the concert flute during those years, taking classes with Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and was a student each year at the prestigious Gaelic Roots Summer School organized by Seamus Connolly.

Frank Claudy, MD
	Biosketch will be available soon.

Mary Fenn
	Biosketch will be available soon.

Officers Since our founding, during our infancy as an organization, Bridget Burke has acted in the capacity of all of the officers, on a voluntary basis.  Beginning in December, 2006 she will receive a minimal salary.  As we grow, we will hire the following officers: Executive Director Secretary Treasurer Director of Research Director of Support of Irish Traditions

Advisory Boards The Board of Directors is in process of assembling panels of experts who voluntarily provide valuable advice to assist us in decision making as we pursue our two very different goals.  To view a listing of the members of these panels, click the name below. Parkinson's Research Advisory Board Irish Traditional Arts Advisory Board