The Claddagh Awards are a cherished tradition honoring the Irish values of friendship, loyalty, and community. Each year, the award is presented to a distinguished individual in Maine whose life of service strengthens our communities and inspires others through their leadership and commitment.

This year, we are honored to present the 2026 Claddagh Award to Pat Callaghan in recognition of his extraordinary career in news and broadcasting, serving for decades as a trusted and judicious voice in the state of Maine.

The evening will also include the presentation of the Halla Cairde Award to Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee of Castlebay, recognizing their enduring contributions to our community. 

Evening Program 

6:00 – 7:00 PM | Reception in the Great Hall
Enjoy a glass of bubbly and conversation in the Great Hall. Surrounded by gorgeous architecture, stained glass, and live music from the MIHC Session Players, hosted by Bryce Potts!

7:00 PM | Bell Ringing and Toast
Guests are invited to gather as the bell rings out across Portland in honor of our Claddagh Recipient.

7:00 –7:45 PM | Food & Bar Open in the Downstairs Function Room
Food, drinks, and community. Complete with live music from Halla Cairde members, Will Woodson and Cait Finley!

7:45 – 8:45 PM | Awards & Speeches

8:45 – 9:30 PM | Dessert and Social Connection
An opportunity to reconnect, celebrate, and enjoy community in the spirit of the Claddagh.

2026 Claddagh Award Recipient: Pat Callaghan

Pat Callaghan began his broadcast journalism career in 1978 at New Hampshire Public Television.

Beginning in 1979, he spent 43 years as a news anchor and reporter for NEWS CENTER Maine (WCSH6 in Portland and WLBZ2 in Bangor). Notable stories along the way included being on the air live when the Challenger space shuttle exploded in 1986, and reporting from Belfast, Northern Ireland when former Maine Sen. George Mitchell chaired the talks that culminated in the Good Friday Agreement. In 2015 Pat produced award-winning reports on efforts in Utah to end chronic homelessness.

Pat spent much of his time covering politics, with extensive reporting from Washington, DC and Augusta, as well as covering Maine’s delegations at numerous national political conventions. He produced documentaries on notable Maine figures including Ed Muskie, Bill Cohen, Olympia Snowe and George Mitchell.

He is the host of “In The Arena,” a Maine politics podcast available on the WMTW TV website and everywhere you get your podcasts.

Pat holds a BA in History from the University of New Hampshire. He is a member of the Maine Broadcasting Hall of Fame and the New England Emmy Awards “Silver Circle.”

He and his wife Karen are the parents of two grown children

2026 Halla Cairde Inductees, Castlebay: 

Julia Lane & Fred Gosbee have been exploring and transcribing archives of music collected in Maine in the early 20th century. Collectors ranged throughout the state gathering hundreds of traditional songs, many of which are from Ireland, brought by the people emigrating and settling here and working on the coast, in the woods, farms, and factories. Field recordings and journals document over 1,000 songs, from which the duo have selected and arranged music for performance. 

In addition to singing these versions of old Irish music, Castlebay shares the lore and history of this potent musical legacy, which embodies stories of romance and rogues, shipwreck and survival, as well as a good dose of humor and blarney. The duo has transcribed many of these songs, “mending” them, and publishing a series titled Bygone Ballads of Maine. Volume 1, Songs of Ships and Sailors, was presented by Loomis House Press in 2021 and is available in local bookstores as well as online. Castlebay has recorded two albums of these songs, Bound Away and The Maid on the Shore, which are available from their website. A subsequent volume and recording of Maine’s Irish songs is in process. 

For over 30 years, Castlebay has toured the eastern US, Scotland, England, and Ireland, being appreciated at arts centers, folk clubs, festivals, schools, and on radio and television. They have released over two dozen recordings, and their music has been used on numerous video soundtracks. More information is available at their website: www.castlebay.net