Taoiseach to visit Atlanta for St. Patrick's Day
The Consulate General of Ireland in Atlanta is delighted to announce a first visit to Atlanta, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, by Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Enda Kenny TD. The Taoiseach will visit Atlanta on Friday March 13th and Saturday March 14th for a busy programme, which will include meetings with Governor Nathan Deal and Mayor Kasim Reed; engagements with Coca-Cola and a number of other major investors in Ireland; and a keynote address at the Irish Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta. The Taoiseach will also be Grand Marshal of the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which begins at 12pm on Saturday March 14th and runs on Peachtree Street between 15th Street NE and 5th Street NE.
The Consul General of Ireland in Atlanta, Paul Gleeson, said: “The fact that the Taoiseach is visiting Atlanta at the busiest time of the year for the Irish Government shows the priority and value the Government attaches to our transatlantic relationship. The Taoiseach is looking forward to meeting Governor Deal and Mayor Reed and to deepening our political, business and cultural ties. Atlanta is home to great partners of Ireland like Coca-Cola, UPS and Delta, as well as the biggest Irish company in the US, Oldcastle. We are also privileged to have great links with world-class universities like Emory and Georgia Tech.”
The President of the Irish Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta, Kevin Conboy, said: “We will be extending the warmest of Southern welcomes to An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. The hard work and sacrifice of the Irish people, led by the Taoiseach, is now being rewarded with vigorous economic growth. And this important visit will further strengthen the connections between Ireland and Atlanta, Georgia and the US south-east.”
The Chairman of the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Dave Fitzgerald, said: “The Irish Prime Minister is the most popular man in the world on St Patrick’s Day. Out of the tens of thousands of St Patrick’s Day Parades around the world, we’re absolutely delighted, and extremely honored, that Enda Kenny has chosen to come to Atlanta to be Grand Marshal of the 133rd St Patrick’s Day Parade.”
Tickets for the Irish Chamber of Commerce breakfast with the Taoiseach can be reserved. For information on the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 12pm on Saturday March 14th, please consult www.atlantastpats.com.