Visit to Ireland by Tennesee Governor Bill Haslam on June 20th

Governor Haslam, accompanied by his Commissioner for Economic and Community Development, Randy Boyd, undertook a full day of meetings in Dublin to support Tennessee’s growing relationship with Ireland in tourism, healthcare, education and music.

The programme included a major roundtable discussion chaired by Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in which the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin F. O’Malley, the Irish Ambassador to the U.S., Anne Anderson, the CEO of Tourism Ireland, Niall Gibbons, and senior representatives of the Irish business and tourism sectors participated. Minister Donohoe and Ambassador Anderson were delighted to follow up on their recent meetings with the Governor in Nashville. Tennessee’s own Brenda Willis also took a break from the current Willis Clan tour of Ireland to contribute to the discussions.

The Governor also called on the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, T.D., at Leinster House, for a discussion on global political developments, Ireland’s economic recovery and the needs of rural communities.

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The Governor was briefed on growing academic ties by Arik Ohnstad from Vanderbilt’s Global Education Office and Prof. Juliette Hussey, Trinity College Dublin’s VP for Global Relations.

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While at Trinity College Dublin, the Governor and Commissioner Boyd also visited the Biomedical Sciences Institute and took in the wonders of the Long Room library, accompanied by Ambassador Anne Anderson.

His day concluded with an appearance on stage during Nashville in Concert at the 3Arena, where the Governor invited the delighted Dublin crowd to visit Tennessee.