The Council's 2011 Annual Report is now available online for download. Click here for details
Ireland-U.S. Council Schedules 2012 Winter Meeting Events
Mid-February in Palm Beach, Florida
Bank of Ireland Investor and Wall Street Titan, Wilbur Ross,
Is Guest Speaker At Council Lunch February 17, 2012
The Ireland-U.S. Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing links,
especially business connections, between America and the Emerald Isle will again
stage its
Annual Winter Meeting in Palm Beach during the second week of February.
The program of business and social events will include remarks by Wilbur Ross, the
Chairman & CEO of W.L. Ross & Co. which is a leading investor in a group
that recently purchased a 35% stake in Bank of Ireland Group for $1.5 billion.
The deal reduced the Government of Ireland’s holding from 42.1% to 15.1% and keeps
Bank of Ireland outside majority State ownership.
Payment is accepted in Euros or U.S. Dollars
Ireland’s Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, TD Is Guest of Honor
at Council’s 2011 Dublin Member-Guest Reception
The Council’s Member-Guest Reception in Dublin was held at the Four Seasons Hotel
on December 15, 2011. The Council presented the traditional Tiffany Crystal Apple
gift to Ireland’s Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, TD after his remarks to
the Council members and their guests. Seen at the presentation were (from left)
Council Board Members Aidan Smyth, Managing Director of Labplan and Brendan Cahill,
Partner at William Fry Solicitors; Guest of Honor Michael Noonan; U.S. Embassy’s
Commercial Attaché Dr. Stephen Anderson with Council Ireland Chapter President Dr.
Michael Somers.
Michael Noonan's speech at the Member-Guest Reception
in Dublin - December 2011
Kieran McGowan – Chairman of Ireland’s Largest Company CRH plc Receives Council’s
2011 Award for Outstanding Achievement
The Council’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2011 was presented to Kieran
McGowan, Chairman of CRH plc and former Chief Executive of IDA Ireland
at the organization’s 49th Annual Dinner held at the Metropolitan Club in New York
City on November 10.
At the presentation were (from left) Noel Kilkenny, Ireland’s Consul General in
New York; Council President Dennis D. Swanson, President, Fox Television Stations
Group; Kieran McGowan and Diarmuid Hogan, Council Vice President and President
of Global Excess Partners who served as Dinner Chairman and who introduced
the honoree at the sold-out event.
The Sam Maguire Cup was at the Council Dinner brought by members of the Dublin Football
Team sponsored by Aer Lingus.
View Kieran McGowan's speech at the Annual Dinner
Council's Successful Golf Day in Ireland
The Council staged a successful Golf Day in reland recently at the magnificent Palmerstown
Stud Golf Club in Johnstown, County Kildare. Sponsored by Council member-company
United Airlines, the event at the 18-hole layout was well-supported by Council
members and their guests on a perfect day for golf. Seen at the post-golf reception
were Roddy Feely, Executive Director of the Council, Stephen Anderson, Commercial
Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin and Council Vice-President Diarmuid Hogan,
Chairman of Global Excess Partners LLC in New York City.
Photos from the Council's New York Golf Day
The Council's New York Golf Day featured the Connie Doolan Memorial Golf Trophy
for the winning fourball led by Council Vice-President Diarmuid Hogan (left) of
Global Excess Partners. Connie's son Council-member John Doolan (second from
right) joined for the presentation. Diarmuid's team members were Bob O'Brien, Ted
Treacy and J.J. Sanseverino.
Ireland’s Consul General in New York Noel Kilkenny (center) with the Council’s David
O’Sullivan and Greg McIntyre from The Padded Wagon.
Terry Caffrey, Jason O’Connell, Garrett Doyle and George Lawrence.
Scott Supernaw, Chris Accomando, John Neary and Joe Byrne.
Bill Falvey of Council-sponsor Diageo with Howie Billings from Oak Beverage
and Pete DeSana from Standard Distributor.
Diageo and Guinness USA helped sponsor the event.
Have cart will golf.
Council National Secretary Jim Adrian brought a fourball to the event: (seen from
left) Steven Gilland, Michael Nicholas, Jim Adrian and Jay Keenan.
John Fitzpatrick with Jeremy and Christopher Boguki and Shane Cookman.
Greg McIntyre, Eugene Roddy Jack Petrie and Tom Goodwin
The Runners-up in the Golf Tournament – Bernard McMullan, John Power and Gerry Meehan.
Council members Bill Falvey of Diageo-Guinness USA with John Doolan of Heineken
USA.
The Heineken USA team - Fergus Begley, John Barney, Council-member John Doolan with
(in front) Howie Billings and Pete Desena.
Scholarships Presentation
Ireland’s Consul General Noel Kilkenny assisted in the presentation of the Council’s
Student Scholarship Award to Sheila Courtney. A native of County Meath, she is a
student at University College Dublin where she is pursuing a degree in Chemical
Engineering.
Council's MidSummer Gala Dinner in Dublin Castle - Friday June 24
At the Council's MidSummer Gala Dinner in Dublin Castle on Friday, June 24 were
Lucinda Creighton, Minister for European Affairs who addressed the Council members
and guests at the dinner. Also present were Senator David Norris who was the Guest
Speaker at the event, Dennis Swanson and Dr. Michael Somers, the President of the
Council's Chapter in Ireland.
Scholarship Awards Lunch in New York - June 9th 2011
At the Council Scholarships Lunch in New York on Thursday June 9 awards were presented
to some of this year's Council scholars. Seen at the event at The Metropolitan Club
were (from left) Noel Kilkenny, Ireland's Consul-General in New York; TCD student
Ben Hutchinson who will work at Council member-company Mutual of America; The Provost
of Trinity College Dublin Dr. John Hegarty who was the Guest Speaker at the event
and Council President Dennis Swanson.
Corporate Spring Lunch in Dublin
Friday April 29th, 2011
Minister of State at the Department of Finance Brian Hayes (right), with Congressman
Richard E Neal of Massachusetts and Marie O'Connor, partner at PWC and Council Board
Member at the Spring corporate lunch in Dublin.
The Irish Times has an article about the Spring Lunch on Saturday April 30th.
Dr. Michael Somers Is New President of Council's Ireland Chapter
Will Lead Council's Efforts in Ireland At Time of Important
Challenges In Ireland-U.S. Economic Relations
New York, NY: April 6, 2011 The President of the Ireland-U.S.
Council, Dennis D. Swanson announced today that Dr. Michael Somers, Deputy Chairman
of Allied Irish Banks and former Chief Executive of the National Treasury Management
Agency, has agreed to serve as the new President of the Council’s Ireland Chapter.
He succeeds Brian J. Goggin who has served since November 2004.
Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore
attends the Council's St. Patrick's Lunch in New York
Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore addressed Irish American Business
leaders at the Ireland-US Council Annual St Patrick’s Day lunch at the Metropolitan
Club in New York, where he was presented with a Tiffany Big Apple by Council President
Dennis Swanson.
President Dennis Swanson Represents Council at Global Irish Economic Forum. See
RTE Interview.
Council President Dennis Swanson interviewed by Irish Times
Friday July 20, 2009
THE FRIDAY INTERVIEW: DENNIS SWANSON, PRESIDENT, FOX TELEVISION STATIONS:
How does a former marine whose great grandfather emigrated from Mayo during the
Famine end up discovering Oprah Winfrey and working for Rupert Murdoch as president
of Fox Television Stations in the US?
As he reclines in his chair in the salubrious surroundings of the Four Seasons Hotel
in Ballsbridge, Dennis Swanson laughs a bit and says: “It was a long journey.”
Welcome to the website of the Ireland-U.S. Council. Our
mission is to build business links between America and Ireland. This site contains
detailed information on the organization's programs
and activities in both the United States and in the Emerald
Isle.
We value your interest in the mission of the Council and always welcome
new members. We hope that you find the answers here to any questions you
may have about us. If not, please contact us and we
will be happy to tell you more.
Ireland and America:
Challenges and Opportunities in a New Context
The Embassy of Ireland in Washington D.C., has recently published a Strategic Review
of Relations between Ireland and the United States (Ireland and America: Challenges
and Opportunities in a New Context). Our Council made a considered submission
on the matter as part of the review process that was conducted by Ireland's Ambassador
to the U.S., Michael Collins and Ambassador/Consul General in New York, Niall Burgess.
The document makes for interesting reading and contains important recommendations
which, if implemented, will enhance the relationships between America and Ireland.
It was back in 1962 that, in preparation for the visit of President John F. Kennedy
to Ireland the following year, two organizations were created as a measure to build
institutional form around a structure to improve the relations between America and
Ireland.
One was dedicated to cultural relations - the American Irish Foundation, which has
since merged into the American Ireland Fund. Your Council was the other and was
aimed at building business bonds between America and Ireland.
We cherish the shared commitments that connect us to our Council mission. During
the past year, the Council has enjoyed outstanding support from members and from
many benefactors, patrons and sponsors. On behalf of the Council's Board and the
entire membership of the organization throughout the United States and in all parts
of Ireland, we offer thanks for the support we continue to receive.
Dennis Swanson
Ireland-U.S. Council President
The Ireland-U.S. Council Welcomes Decisions To Expand Work Visa Programs Between
Ireland and the United States
The Ireland-U.S. Council welcomes the decisions of both the Irish Government and
the United States Administration to implement a substantial liberalization of visa
rules allowing for U.S. citizens to work in Ireland and for Irish citizens to work
in the United States for up to a year. Read More ...
