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The Fund was one of the leading supporters of the inaugural U.S. Ireland Forum held in Manhattan on November 7th and 8th. This unique ‘think tank’ reviewed all aspects of the relationship between Ireland and America.

The connection between the two countries is vital and enormously beneficial. Ireland receives more U.S. Foreign Investment than any other country with U.S. companies contributing 40% of Irish Corporation Tax. However, from a traditional position of dependency, the relationship has grown to one of partnership. Irish companies employ almost as many in the U.S. as American companies employ in Ireland and Ireland is the 10th biggest investor in the U.S. The conference opened with a review of this economic relationship and how it can grow in an increasingly globalized world.

The Forum also examined philanthropy and specifically how the new wealthy in Ireland could learn from America’s experience and expand private gift-giving. The question asked was can philanthropy become America’s great export.

The cultural relationship between the two countries was examined along with the extent to which both countries have influenced each others’ thinking and world view.

Other topics discussed include education, immigration, capturing the attention of the next generation of Irish-Americans and, of course, political issues and the wonderful developments in Northern Ireland.

A key note address by Don Keough, Chairman Emeritus of The Coca-Cola Company, summed up the purpose behind and theme of the conference; i.e. in a more complex and globalized world and with such change occurring, particularly in Ireland, this relationship cannot be taken for granted and must be supported and nurtured.

Key AIF speakers were Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Kingsley Aikins, Kip Condron, Christopher G. Doherty, John Duffy, Maureen Gillespie, Denis Kelleher, Declan Kelly, Tara McCabe, Kieran McLoughlin, and Tom Ryan. They were among forty speakers who addressed over one thousand attendees. The Funds partners in putting the Forum together were Irish America Magazine and University College Dublin.

To crown the Forum, the President of the University College Dublin, Hugh Brady, announced the opening of the John Hume Institute of Global Irish Studies which will examine all issues to do with Irish Diaspora and ensure the permanent legacy of the Forum.

Photo Index
1 - Kip Condron
2 - Kingsley Aikins, Kieran McLoughlin, Niall O'Dowd
3 - Pete Hamill
4 - Professor James Heckman, Nobel Laureate in Economics
5 - Chris Doherty, Maureen Gillespie, Tara McCabe, Aidan Connolly, Lisa Murtagh
6 - Forum
7 - Thomas Ryan
8 - Forum
9 - Bart Murphy
10 - Declan Kelly, Don Keough, John Duffy, Loretta Brennan Glucksman