January Newsletter
News about Ireland
The New Year and Christmas message from the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, was dedicated to “all of our Irish abroad, those who assist them and the communities that have welcomed them”.
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, welcomed the new agreement between political parties in Northern Ireland, which covers financial and welfare reform and issues around parading, flags and identity, and dealing with the past. The agreement came at the end of 12 weeks of negotiations facilitated by the Irish and British Governments. The outcome was also welcomed by President Obama.
Ireland has become the first European Union country to gain access to US markets for its grass-fed beef, following a ban imposed in the late 1990s. The New York Times reported on the development here.
The Taoiseach has established a Working Group on Seanad (Senate) Reform, dedicated to improving the functioning of Ireland’s Upper House of Parliament. Views from our Irish community abroad can be sent by email to seanadreformwg@taoiseach.gov.ie before the closing date for submissions of Tuesday, January 20. Please note that all submissions received may be made available under Ireland’s Freedom of Information Acts. You can find out more about the Group’s work here.
Global Atlanta visited Ireland and reported on how “Dublin celebrates Christmas with a Positive Outlook for 2015”. Meanwhile, the Consulate recommended ‘Nora Webster’ by Colm Tóibín for Global Atlanta’s review of the best books of 2014.
Connect Ireland has reached the milestone of 1,000 jobs created in Ireland as a result of introductions from around the world. Find out here how you can be rewarded for introducing companies to Ireland.
Irish Central featured a remarkable visual poem dedicated to the city of Dublin. Irish Central also took a look at the current influence of Irish advisors within the White House.
Simon Carswell of The Irish Times told the story of the attempts of Frank Snellings, the husband of outgoing Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, to track down his Irish brother.
And Al Jazeera took a look at the future of the Irish language in an online world.
Upcoming Events
New Orleans will host a ceremony on Thursday, January 8, at 12pm to remember Jean-Joseph Amable Humbert, commander of Franco-Irish forces during Ireland’s 1798 Rebellion and later an ally of future US President Andrew Jackson in Louisiana. The event will take place in St. Louis Cemetery No.1, 425 Basin St., New Orleans, LA 70112.
The Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta – the oldest civic group of any kind in the city – will host its first meeting of the new year at the Harp Bar in Roswell on Thursday, January 8, from 7pm. New members and visitors are welcome.
The American Ireland Fund and the Ireland-US Council will host their annual Florida meetings in Palm Beach on Thursday, February 12, and Friday, February 13, respectively. The keynote address at the Ireland-US Council luncheon will be delivered by Ireland’s Ambassador to the US, Anne Anderson.
The Savannah Irish Festival in 2015 will also take place over the weekend of February 13-15; more info on performers and what to expect at this major event in the cultural calendar is here.
The International Meeting of the American Conference for Irish Studies (ACIS) will take place this year in Fort Lauderdale in Florida over March 25-28 and will be hosted by the University of Miami. You can register to attend and find out more here.
Happy New Year everyone!
If there are Irish events you’d like us to highlight in future newsletters, please contact us.
Consulate General of Ireland
Monarch Plaza, Suite 260,
3414 Peachtree Road NE,
Atlanta, GA 30326.
https://www.dfa.ie/irish-consulate/atlanta
Follow us on Twitter @IrelandAtlanta
January 2015