June 2014 - News about Ireland
European and local elections were held in Ireland on May 23, with Fine Gael and Sinn Féin winning most seats in the European Parliament and Fianna Fáil becoming the largest party in local government. In the wake of the results, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, announced that he would be stepping down as leader of Ireland’s Labour Party. The Taoiseach paid tribute to the Tánaiste’s work in restoring Ireland’s international reputation in a statement.
Bloomberg reported on how Ireland’s borrowing costs continue to fall. The Taoiseach spoke with CNBC about how Ireland has won back the confidence of financial markets.
Ireland’s Ambassador to the US, Anne Anderson, visited Atlanta for a programme which included addresses to the Irish Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Council of International Relations; meetings with Coca-Cola and Oldcastle, the largest Irish company in the US; and a visit to the magnificent new Seamus Heaney exhibition in Emory University’s Woodruff Library.
Irish company E&I Engineering announced the establishment of a new operation in South Carolina, creating 250 jobs. Meanwhile, the IDA, Ireland’s Investment Agency, is looking to recruit a new executive in Atlanta.
Atlanta’s young Irish traditional musicians put in a superb performance at the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil in St. Louis, bringing home 16 awards, including 9 first place medals. Congratulations to the Atlanta Junior Céilí Band, Irish Traditions Atlanta and all involved!
The GAA and RTÉ have launched GAAGO, a new live and on-demand streaming service, for fans in North America and across the world. GAAGO will show 45 games from the current season’s football and hurling championships.
The Irish Times reported on letters from former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to an Irish priest.
Norm from ‘Cheers’ took a visit to Ireland to experience the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’.
And the US Embassy in Dublin celebrated 50 years in Ireland with this video, while it also arranged to put its support for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) to music!
Upcoming Events
Atlanta’s new Celtic Theatre Company, Arís, presents its first production, “The New Electric Ballroom” by Enda Walsh, in the studios of Georgia Public Broadcasting (260 14th St NW) between June 5 and 15. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covered the return of Celtic Theatre to Atlanta with this piece.
Atlanta’s Clan na nGael GAA Club hosts the annual Georgia Peach Cup for visiting football, hurling and camogie teams from across the US south-east – and as far away as Denver and St. Louis - from 11am on Saturday, June 7 at the Georgia Soccer Park (3895 Ben Hill Road). More details on their site about on a fun day for all the family and a great opportunity to enjoy Gaelic games!
The Atlanta Celtic Camp run by the Atlanta Irish Music School will take place from June 9-13 for children aged 4-17.
Talented violinist and fiddler Dylan Foley plays Steve’s Live Music in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 11 while singer and musician Andy Irvine plays a house concert in Atlanta on Sunday, June 15.
And the 20th Biennial Ulster-American Heritage Symposium will take place at the University of Georgia in Athens over June 26-28, with Irish historian David Gleeson – author of “The Green and the Gray: The Irish in the Confederate States of America” – delivering the keynote address.
If there are Irish events you’d like us to highlight in future newsletters, please let us know on our Contact Us page.