Honorary consul happy to share passion about Irish heritage

Frankly, I assumed being an honorary consul for a foreign country entailed throwing a party for the occasional dignitary who visits Las Vegas, but not much more.

The new honorary consul of Ireland for Nevada set me straight fast. She's not a party girl, although she does like to party - and sing, play the guitar and drink Guinness in Irish pubs.

But since becoming honorary consul of Ireland for Nevada on April 1, Terry Murphy has:

■ Helped Irish citizens who lost their passports. Without an honorary consul in Las Vegas, they would have had to fly to San Francisco to obtain the necessary travel papers. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is for travelers who lose their passports.

■ Helped a family in Ireland deal with returning a body of a loved one home to Ireland after the musician died of natural causes in Laughlin.

■  Started creating the Irish Network in Las Vegas, like those in Chicago, San Diego and Boston, to bring together business people with ties to Ireland.

■  Started an effort to make sure the history of the Irish in Nevada is included as part of the state's 150th birthday celebration in 2014.

■  Helped host an official visit to Las Vegas by Michael Collins, Ireland's ambassador to the United States. He came to speak at UNLV in May, and, yes, a reception/party was held in his honor. But not by Murphy. Las Vegas attorney Bill Curran's law firm hosted the event.

Next year, Murphy will lead a Nevada contingent to Gathering Ireland, a tourism event to welcome people, Irish or not, to Ireland.

Murphy's appointment is for five years. She replaced the late Dr. Barney Brady of Reno, who served for 10 years before his death.

Nevada has honorary consuls for 23 countries. Their names and contact information are listed on the Governor's Office of Economic Development webpage at http://nv.diversifynevada.com/divisions/office_of_diplomatic_relations_and_protocol/nevada_honorary_consuls/.

So, how does one get a gig like this?

Murphy had assisted Irish visitors with problems in Las Vegas whenever she could. Some of those she helped wrote letters of support. The Irish government approved Murphy out of a list of some 15 Las Vegans with a passion for Ireland.

Murphy is the granddaughter of an Irish immigrant who came to New York in 1910, and she feels strongly about her heritage, reaching far beyond wearing a "Kiss me, I'm Irish" button on St. Patrick's Day.

"Who doesn't want to be Irish? It's fun to be Irish. They're a passionate people, and it's fun to share all that."

The former New Yorker takes Irish history seriously. Her ancestors were among the Irish who lived through the potato famine of 1845-1850, when a million died and another million emigrated.

Like other immigrants, they faced discrimination. "No Irish need apply" signs were common in New York in the 1800s when Irish immigrants came to the city in droves.

"But that didn't deter us from becoming involved in politics," she said, one of her own pathways to success as she has advised Democrats and Republicans on policy issues.

Murphy is a natural problem solver whose business, Strategic Solutions, does political consulting, research and public outreach.

"I know who to call. It sounds simple, but understanding how government works, and being able to get a call back promptly, helps big time when Irish citizens need help here."

Meanwhile, I'm wondering whether there's a way I might become an honorary consul for the Cherokee Nation. I know how to throw a party, and I'm sure my Cherokee brother Wayne Newton would help.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Email her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.