On Friday, March 28th, at the Seaport Hotel, I received the Amy K. Murray Angel Award at the South Boston Neighborhood House Gala.  John McGahan received the Joe “Dodo” Nee Award.  For those of you who missed the event, I’d like to share my acceptance speech with you!  You can also still make a donation to this important neighborhood organization who has been providing valuable services to South Boston for over 124 years!

Thank you, everyone, for this incredible honor, especially to Kathy Lafferty and the South Boston Neighborhood House Board of Directors for choosing me.  I’m humbled and truly grateful to be receiving the Amy K Murray Angel Award —something that embodies the loving, kind, compassionate energy Amy herself embodied and shared with absolutely everyone she encountered at the Ollie during her lifetime. Her joy was infectious, and I know so many of you here tonight—including all the teens in our community that she personally guided and mentored—felt that joy, as well as how it made such a profound difference in our community.

I love this community—probably as much as Amy did. It’s why I started a media company called Caught In Southie, so I could devote my work and my life to honoring all the people and history and landmarks that keep all of us connected on a daily basis. I’m not just the founder and editor of Caught in Southie—I am a PROUD 4th-generation South Boston native. My grandfather, Jim Dahill, was fiercely devoted to this town—his daily walks around Castle Island were a testament to his love for this place. And my grandmother, Peg Coughlin, mother of nine, was a founding member of the South Boston Mother’s Club, an early version of what is now the South Boston Moms Club. She believed in the power of community, in showing up, in rolling up her sleeves to actively make our community better—for everyone. Something our neighborhood will attest to—if you want something done—ASK a busy mom! 

And I know each of you here tonight has a version of grandpa Jim or grandma Peg who helped to make South Boston YOUR home, too. 

For me South Boston is my parents, Richie and Maureen Dahill, my stepmom Gail, my siblings, Richie, Courtney, and Jamie. It’s Sunday suppers at 114 Marine Road.  It’s Christmas Eve at my Aunt Peggy’s.  It’s the fact that my best friends today are the friends I met here in the neighborhood. 

And now, connecting my love and loyalty of our neighborhood to my own children, Grace, Peter and Henry, raising them here with my husband, Peter Gailunas, a firefighter right here in South Boston.

These ties—all of our ties here-go deep. At Caught in Southie, I consider myself South Boston’s biggest cheerleader. Creating that space, everyday, for us all to share information + timely resources, and also CELEBRATE the iconic character and legacy that IS our home. I guess you could say Caught In Southie is a daily love letter to South Boston. 

A place unlike any other part of this state OR of Boston itself. What makes our community special goes beyond our legendary beaches, our hardcore local businesses, and organizations like The Ollie…is ALL OF YOU. 

All of US. 

I know I’m not the only one who sometimes wakes up every morning feeling like the world is falling apart, but living here reminds me that we are grounded—supported, connected, and loved, right here, right NOW. In a place and a community where tradition meets transformation, where deep roots grow stronger while new shoots emerge, shaping our future in innumerable ways. 

Currently, the Caught in family has expanded into new neighborhoods, including Dorchester, East Boston, and Charlestown. And the North End is coming soon.  And knowing that a site like ours helps all of us stay informed and entertained while also guiding the next generation of locals to grow roots here, well, it’s a reminder that there is NOTHING we can’t do, when we come together. 

Really community is about supporting each other.  So I want to throw a quick shoutout to some of my neighborhood partners here tonight.  Mass Bay Credit Union.  Boston Firefighters Credit Union.  The Broadway Restaurant Group. The Broadway Hospitality Group. Rob from Roza Lyons.  Thank you! Thank you for partnering with us and helping our little media company grow to what we are today.

To stand here tonight in a room full of neighbors and friends is beyond special. It’s a moment that embodies what Southie is all about: supporting each other, and lifting each other up…and occasionally, reuniting a beloved lost pet with their owner!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wouldn’t be here without all of you…here is to us! 

Images via Ginger DeShaney