Golden Shamrock Award

Honoring Outstanding Dedication to Irish Culture and Heritage

Award Overview

Established in 2025, our Golden Anniversary Year—50 years in the Golden State and not far from the iconic Golden gate Bridge, the Golden Shamrock Award is presented annually by the United Irish Cultural Center of San Francisco to recognize a distinguished member whose con-tributions exemplify the mission of the UICC—celebrating, promoting, and preserving Irish cul-ture and heritage.

Just as there are three leaves in the shamrock, this prestigious honor highlights an individual’s dedication to three areas: fostering cultural awareness; strengthening community bonds and ensuring that the rich traditions of Ireland continue to thrive in the Bay Area and beyond.

2025 Awardee, Monica McGuire

Longtime United Irish Cultural Center charter member, benefactor, and friend, Monica McGuire has been one of our biggest ambassadors and has committed much time, talent and treasure to the mission of the UICC.Investing in the well-being of others has been a lifetime vocation for Monica. After earning a BSN from the University of Oregon School of Nursing and MPA from the University of San Fran-cisco, Monica went on to thrive in a 40+ year career as a Registered Nurse in the San Francisco Department of Public Health. She served as a Supervisor and Administrator at Laguna Honda Hospital and SF General, working as an Administrative Nurse. Her entire life has been centered around caring for others—both professionally and personally.Monica’s parents immigrated from Ireland in 1930—her father from Agho, Fermanagh, and her mother from Claudy, Derry. As a family they were deeply rooted in the Irish community of San Francisco and the East Bay, a tradition Monica has carried forward through decades of cultural and personal connections with the UICC.Monica is known for her quiet acts of care and compassion. She’s been a support to countless friends, often accompanying them in their final hours She continues to foster relationships with former colleagues, long-term friends, and family. Beyond her nursing and service, Monica is incredibly artistic—her home garden is a work of living art where She enjoys growing cymbidium orchids and trying to propagate plants in her clay garden. She’s famous for her creativity: from handmade wreaths and infused oils to beautifully wrapped, imaginative gifts using recycled materials long before sustainability was a trend.

Embracing the concept of “Building Our Future”, Monica has generously supported the UICC’s Leo T. Walsh Scholarship Program in memory of her parents, Roddy McGuire and Anne Lynch, which helps rising 9th graders and college students achieve their dreams. She’s a longtime do-nor to Catholic schools including Sacred Heart Cathedral, Saint Ignatius, Holy Name, St. Ste-phen, and especially DeMarillac Academy, which serves underrepresented students in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. Tonight, we are proud to honor Monica with a special presentation of the inaugural Golden Shamrock Award honoring outstanding dedication to Irish culture and heritage—not only for her many contributions, but for the love, legacy, and community she continues to nurture every day.

Embracing the concept of “Building Our Future”, Monica has generously supported our community’s youth through scholarships named for her parents, Roddy McGuire and Anne Lynch, helping rising 9th graders and college students achieve their dreams. She’s a longtime donor to Catholic schools including Sacred Heart Cathedral, Saint Ignatius, Holy Name, St. Stephen, and especially DeMarillac Academy, which serves underrepresented students in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, and happens to be led by her niece, Theresa Flynn-Houghton, who serves as the school’s president (Theresa is also a past president of the UICC).

Tonight, we are proud to honor Monica with a special presentation of the inaugural Golden Shamrock Award honoring outstanding dedication to Irish culture and heritage—not only for her many contributions, but for the love, legacy, and community she continues to nurture every day. Monica, we love you and thank you.

Eligibility Criteria