Born in New York City, educated in Ireland and western New York, Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler is the eldest of Dr. Eoin McKiernan´s nine children. From her father, she inherited a passion for Ireland and all things Irish. She holds a B.A. from Nazareth College and an M.A. from St. Bernard´s School of Theology and Ministry in Rochester, New York. In 1995, Deirdre took over from her father the McKiernan Tours to Ireland. She has served as the chair of the Rochester Chapter of the Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI), founded in 1962 by Dr. McKiernan. Currently, she sits on the national Board. Research for this biography was done at the National Archives of Ireland, in addition to multiple interviews, including those with several former Irish Ambassadors, former IACI Board members, IACI award winners, and academics. Deirdre and her husband, Joseph Hetzler, live in Fairport, NY.

"Eoin McKiernan is arguably the reason any Irish-American knows anything about their heritage."
Grace Croke, Philadelphia Philanthropist

"[Eoin was] one of the most powerful voices in the history of the Irish in America, a man who, perhaps more than any other, created the concept of Irish America as we know it today."
Niall O'Dowd, publisher of Irish America magazine and The Irish Voice

"Dr McKiernan devoted his life to, and set the standard for, Irish Studies. "
Fr Dennis Dease, president, University of St Thomas

"Eoin McKiernan's extraordinary achievement was to close the HUGE gap that had opened up between our two countries. The umbilical cord was nearly completely severed. Into that gap came Eoin McKiernan. His was the lone voice on the international scene. He rebuilt the umbilical cord, opening up lines of communication in social and cultural areas. The cultural connections Eoin McKiernan started facilitated the political and economic developments of the 1990s."
Former Irish Ambassador Sean Donlon