Irish Person of the year Joan DeDitius - 1998

1998 Dallas Irish Person of the Year named by the Irish American Society of Dallas. Joan is Director of the Irish American Cultural Institute Dallas/Fort Worth chapter.

As Irish Person of the Year, Joan will serve in this role at Irish functions throughout the year including the Society’s St. Patrick’s Day Ball, the Downtown Dallas St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Luncheon, the annual Southwest Celtic Music Association’s North Texas Irish fest at Fair Park, the Rose of Tralee Ball in Dallas, and the Georgian Society’s upcoming event.

A native of Ireland, Joan has been active in the Irish community and in promoting Irish culture in Dallas since moving here in 1972. She established and managed the exhibit booth representing Irish culture at the Dallas International Bazaar. After serving on the board and on various committees of the Irish American Society, Joan, among other things, initiated an Irish book donation program for the city’s public library, and became president of the Irish American Society in 1988-89 with her husband Don. She also participates annually as Deputy Marshal at the Downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

In 1996, Joan founded the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the Irish American Cultural Institute, which promotes and supports Irish culture and the arts throughout the United States and in Ireland. With a Master’s degree in journalism and English from the University of North Texas, she piloted and teaches an honors English course at Richland College on the renowned Irish poet William Butler Yeats, a subject she lectures on for Richland’s Emeritus Program, for the University of Dallas, and in the Dallas community at large.

A former board member of Women in Communication, Inc., and the International Women’s Club of Dallas, Joan was also chairman and remedial English tutor as part of the Marsh Junior High School parent volunteer program.

Born in Dublin, Joan grew up in Sligo, Ireland, and later moved to County Cork before coming to the United States. She returns regularly to visit family and friends in Dublin and Cork, and to attend the Yeats International Summer School in Sligo.

Her sister Maureen Looney and family live in Macroom, Co. Cork and the family of her deceased sister Eileen O’Donoghue lives in Ballintemple, Co. Cork. Joan and Don have four children and five grandchildren with another on the way! She enjoys visiting with friends, art, theater, dancing, music, poetry, reading, visiting her grandchildren, walking and going to the YMCA.

Joan says she feels very honored to be chosen Irish Person of the Year.

We wish Joan the very best for the coming year.