Irish Network to strengthen links between Emerald Isle and Western New York

by | Jan 11, 2014 | Buffalo, In The News

Association will establish Buffalo chapter to boost cultural ties

By Anne Neville, News Staff Reporter & Matt Glynn, News Business Reporter
The Buffalo News

More than 100 people from all over the region who share a common interest in Ireland and the Irish turned out for a reception Friday night to hear about the launch of a new Irish Network USA chapter in Buffalo.

The people in attendance, mostly Irish and Irish-American, whose interests in Ireland ranged from sports, theater, music, arts, literature, academics and culture, mingled with two Irish dignitaries – Liam O’Neill, president of the Gaelic Athletic Association, an Irish sports and cultural organization with a worldwide presence, and Peter Ryan, deputy consul general for economic and public affairs for the Consulate General of Ireland in New York City.

In addition to athletics, the athletic association’s clubs are a way for Irish people to connect and support each other in countries around the world. “It reflects the very best of Irish society,” said Ryan. Irish immigrants, including Mayo man Padraic Walsh, have joined with Irish-Americans to establish a local GAA-affiliated Gaelic football club here called the Buffalo Fenians.

The new chapter of the Irish Network being established here intends to further capitalize on the links between people in Ireland and Western New York.

“It is about promoting economic development and business relations, between cities and states across the United States,” said Deirdre Woodbyrne, executive director of the Irish Network USA, which is based in New Jersey. “It’s about promoting Irish heritage, culture and sports.”

Seventeen other U.S. cities, including New York City, already have Irish Network chapters. Buffalo’s chapter won’t be officially launched until the spring, but representatives were in town on Friday to share their plans, while lauding the city’s Irish ties and influences.

Irish Network chapters in other U.S. cities serve as a conduit between the American and Irish business communities, Woodbyrne said. “We are hoping to go from 17 chapters to 30,” she said.

The local chapter will likely be established in April or May, run by a board of directors consisting of about a dozen people, Woodbyrne said.

Irish Network’s chapters aim to attract Irish-Americans as well as Irish new to the United States who are trying to get themselves established, she said. Along with commerce, the chapters also work to promote Irish sports in the United States.

At the reception, people lauded the links already in place between Buffalo and Ireland.

“This is not my first visit to Buffalo, and every time I visit, or every time I read something about Buffalo, I think of the depth of the relationships between Ireland and here,” said Ryan. “This is an Irish town.”

Conor Hawkins, manager of D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Pub, is often the first point of contact for newly immigrated Irish people. “It’s OK to meet people on St. Patrick’s Day or on parade day, but this would go far beyond that,” he said of the Irish Network.

“This is tying the Irish and the Irish-American community together strongly,” said Steve Lenox of New Jersey, president of Irish Network USA. “We want to work together and build bridges and, with this organization, get a cross-section of the community and bring everything together under one roof.”

Patrick F. McDevitt, an associate professor in the history department at the University at Buffalo, was particularly interested in a push by the Buffalo Fenians to host the Continental Youth Championships for athletes age 6 to 18 in such Gaelic sports as hurling and Gaelic football. The annual event draws 12,500 people from the United States and Canada, including competitors, family members and spectators. Supporters of the idea say the economic impact of attracting so many out-of-town visitors would be considerable.

The competition has rotated between big cities like New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia. O’Neill said UB is providing some support in the drive to make Buffalo a host city. The soonest the event could be brought to Buffalo probably would be 2017, based on the schedule already set for the coming years, O’Neill said.

“I’d love for the games to come here,” said McDevitt, whose book on sports in the British Empire includes a chapter on the founding of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The organization, founded in 1884, was not only the earliest part of the Gaelic Revival, but also the most successful and longest lasting, McDevitt said.

Members of the Amherst Gaelic League, which supports the Buffalo Fenians, turned out to support the enterprise. “It’s a good partnership,” said League President Dennis P. Lennon of the league’s association with the team. “We especially like that it offers programs for children and gives young people an opportunity to participate in the games.” Bill Cleary, another league official, said, “Promoting Irish culture is one of the cornerstones of the Amherst Gaelic League.”

Ryan said Ireland and the United States already have strong business connections to build on. Irish companies are investing in the United States, while Ireland is home to the European operations of companies like LinkedIn, Twitter, Amazon, Google and Facebook. “This is a two-way exercise,” he said.

An Irish Network chapter can help cultivate more of that activity in a place like Buffalo, Ryan said. For instance, he said Buffalo, due to its growing medical corridor, would be a good fit for the many companies in Ireland that work with life sciences and medical devices. Ryan said the message to those Irish companies would be: “If you go to Buffalo, you don’t need to be a stranger in Buffalo. The Irish people have been there for 200 years. There’s a Gaelic club in Buffalo, there’s an Irish Network there.”

Now, Ryan said, Buffalo is most famous in Ireland for being the site of the 1866 Fenian invasion of Canada, a military strike designed to pressure Britain into freeing Ireland — “which we are very proud of, actually,” he added.

Irish Network USA’s national board meeting in Washington DC

by | Nov 15, 2013 | In The News, Washington DC

By Jane Walsh
Irish Central

Irish Network USA held their first national Board meeting this past weekend in the nation’s capital, kicked off by a reception hosted by Ireland’s Ambassador to the U.S., Anne Anderson.

Highlighting the reception was Ambassador Anderson’s announcement that Irish Network USA was awarded a grant to assist IN-USA in meeting its mission of promoting business, cultural and social ties between the two nations.

Ambassador Anderson welcomed members from across the US and emphasized the support of Irish Government for the mission of IN-USA, “I was delighted to host the IN-USA delegates at a reception at the Irish Embassy in Washington D.C. at the beginning of their weekend-long meeting. The Irish Government is strongly supportive of the development of IN-USA and the expansion of Irish Network chapters across the US. A concrete reflection of that support was a substantial grant, approved by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, from the Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Programme”.

“This national board meeting started a new and exciting chapter for Irish Network USA,” stated Steve Lenox, Co-President. “The support of Ambassador Anderson and her team, the enthusiasm and growing success of our member chapters, and the seemingly non-stop calls from Irish and Irish American leaders in cities across the US are all coming together at the right time to ensure that 2014 is our biggest year yet!”

IN-DC President Brid Ryan, “IN-DC was honored to act as host city for the IN-USA board meeting this weekend. I was personally struck by the individual and collective ambition of our members to reach out and engage with the Irish diaspora and friends of Ireland across the United States. Our continued support from the Department of Foreign Affairs, and specifically our receipt this year of a grant from the Emigrant Support Programme, will enhance our ability to cultivate lasting business, economic and social relationships.”

The two day Board Meeting, held at the Dupont Circle Hotel, included several guest speakers including John McCarthy, Future Civic Leaders; Pat Tully, Ireland Funds; Ciaran Staunton, Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform; and Simon Carswell, Irish Times. Those attending the meeting, representing thirteen chapters from across the U.S., participated in interactive discussions on issues ranging from digital strategies to effective fundraising techniques. The central theme that emerged throughout the weekend was using these new skills not just for networking, but to build a network.

The meeting ended with the announcement that Irish Network USA would hold an even larger Board meeting and conference in Seattle, Washington, September 12-14, 2014.

IN-USA currently has sixteen chapters throughout the U.S. including; Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Colorado, Delaware, Minnesota, Nevada, New Orleans, New Jersey, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C. Over the course of the next year IN-USA plans to grow to thirty chapters.