April 2014 - News about Ireland
Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, visited Atlanta and Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day, where his programme included meetings with the Governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, and the Mayors of Atlanta and Savannah, Kasim Reed and Edna Jackson. Minister Varadkar was interviewed on CNN about Ireland’s economic recovery and wrote opinion pieces for the Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Savannah Morning News about increasing business, education and cultural ties between Ireland and the US south-east.
Global Atlanta spoke with Minister Varadkar about Ireland-Atlanta ties and also looked, in this piece, at the reasons innovative Atlanta-based companies are choosing Ireland as their European headquarters.
In Savannah, Minister Varadkar’s programme included the launching of a new Wexford-Savannah Research Platform at Georgia Southern University, which will explore the historic ties between Wexford and Savannah in conjunction with Waterford Institute of Technology and the JFK Trust. The new research partnership featured on the Pat Kenny radio show in Ireland.
In Washington DC, Taoiseach Enda Kenny met with President Obama at the White House. The two leaders discussed Ukraine, economic recovery and the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform in the US.
Ireland’s Minister for education, Ruairí Quinn, has announced lower university fees in Ireland for the children of Irish emigrants.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, has announced a review of how the Irish Government engages with its Irish communities abroad. You can submit your views before April 23; more details are here. Nominations are also open for the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards, which recognise Irish people and people of Irish heritage around the world who make outstanding contributions in areas like arts, culture and sport; business and education; charitable works; Irish community support; and peace reconciliation and development.
The programme for the State Visit to Great Britain by Ireland’s President, Michael D. Higgins, has been announced. This will be the first State Visit by an Irish President to our closest neighbour. Events will include a “Ceiliúradh” (“Celebration”) at the Royal Albert Hall on April 10, which will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio and on the RTÉ Player.
The Orlando Business Journal featured six tips on doing business with Irish companies.
Ireland won the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament, defeating France 22-20 to clinch the title after a thrilling deciding game in Paris. It was the last Irish appearance of the legendary Brian O’Driscoll, the most capped player in the history of world rugby.
And Irish dancing broke out in the Fox studios in Atlanta to mark March 17...
Upcoming Events
Acclaimed Irish musicians Moya Brennan and Cormac De Barra will play a “Voices and Harps” concert at Emory University’s Schwartz Center at 8pm on Friday April 4; for tickets and more information. The concert will be preceded by a conversation in the Jones Room at the Woodruff Library at 2pm that day, moderated by Professor James Flannery and focusing on Irish music, poetry and culture.
The Woodruff Library also continues to host the major Emory University exhibition on “Seamus Heaney: The Music of What Happens”. The exhibition includes Heaney’s handwritten poems and drafts and recordings of some of his finest works read by actor Liam Neeson and writer Salman Rushdie. Fintan O’Toole wrote about the exhibition in this piece for The Irish Times.
South Carolina will once again host its annual Celtic Festival and Tartan Day South at the Historic Columbia Speedway and West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater over April 3-6.
Renowned historian David Gleeson will be speaking about his new book “The Green and the Gray: The Irish in the Confederate States of America” at the LP Grant Mansion, 327 St. Paul Avenue, at 6pm on Friday April 11. All are welcome at this event, hosted by the Atlanta Preservation Center.
Irish scientist David Frost will speak at the next Atlanta European Science Café on Wednesday April 23 about his award-winning research on “Earthquake Reconnaissance: Turning Disaster into Knowledge”. The event is at the Goethe Institute and Alliance Francaise at Colony Square (1197 Peachtree St NE), beginning at 6pm; doors open from 5.30pm and no RSVPs are required.
The Irish Cultural Museum of New Orleans (933 Conti Street) will host an exhibition by Irish photographer, Daragh Muldowney, from Friday April 25 and running until Saturday May 24. “Jewellery Box” showcases the beauty to be found in coastal life off the shores of Ireland; you can take a look at images from the exhibition and there is a very nice, short video on how the project came about. Daragh will also speak about his work at the Museum at 10am on Saturday April 26. The exhibition is supported by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Irish Cultural Museum of New Orleans will also welcome Rickey E. Pittman for Irish storytelling and music from 2.30pm on Saturday April 12. All are welcome, with face-painting and other activities planned for children.
The World Affairs Council of Atlanta will host a dinner to mark Europe Day on Thursday May 8 from 7pm. Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat, former US Ambassador to the European Union, will be the keynote speaker.
And the 2014 Atlanta GAA Golf Classic will take place in the Heritage Golf Links on Saturday May 10. Clan na nGael is also starting a new free-of-charge Gaelic football and hurling programme for kids under 12 years of age.
If there are Irish events you’d like us to highlight in future newsletters, please let us know through our Contact Us page.