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US-Ireland Forum focuses on relations
By Noreen Bowden | November 14, 2007
An event focusing on the relationship between the US and Ireland was held in New York on November 7 and 8.
The US-Ireland Forum, which organisers say was attended by around 1,000 people, was sponsored by Irish America magazine, University College Dublin and the American Ireland Fund. The Irish government and Aer Lingus supported the event.
The speakers included many of the most prominent voices in US-Irish relations, including Irish America/Irish Voice publisher Niall O’Dowd, Irish Ambassador to the US Michael Collins, American Ireland Fund president Kieran McLoughlin, former Congressman Bruce Morrison, economist David McWilliams, and former Coca-Cola president Don Keough.
The most significant announcement at the forum was the launch of the John Hume Global Irish Institute at UCD, which university president Hugh Brady said would be an international centre of excellence aimed at exploring the Irish Diaspora.
Among the other themes at the event was the need to create a philanthropic spirit among the wealthy Irish in Ireland, with several speakers noting that Irish philanthropy lags behind that in other countries, despite the increasing wealth of the country.
Several speakers highlighted a desire for increased participation in Irish life, with Keough calling for a Diaspora Commission that would allow Ireland to tap into the resources of the Irish abroad. The issue of emigrant voting rights was also raised.
Several speakers raised the issue of tensions between the US and Ireland, such as the anti-Americanism which some attributed to international hostility to the current administration. There was a clear recognition, however, of the goodwill that had attracted the large crowds to the venue – including a strong contingent from Ireland.
See the Irish Voice report on the US-Ireland Forum.
Visit the US-Ireland Forum website for the lineup of speakers.
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June 2nd, 2009 at 3:54 pm
[...] Ean: US-Ireland Forum focuses on relations [...]