February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Now the Irish Echo is putting some meat on the bones of those initiatives by bringing together leaders from Massachusetts and northwest Ireland in Boston this week to agree on concrete steps they can take together to reignite the bridges of commerce, education, friendship and culture which unite our peoples.
“The Gateways to Tomorrow” conference grew out of the successful Golden Bridges luncheon hosted by the Irish Echo in Boston last October at which leaders of Irish America who have forged alliances with Ireland were honored.
This year, we have decided to go one step further by giving Irish America the opportunity to build a new 21st Century partnership with the burgeoning region of northwest Ireland, spanning the border from Derry to Donegal.
The birthplace of the Irish civil rights movement, Derry is the urban hub of this bustling region and while the city suffered terribly during the years of warfare, it is now determined to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity with clear benefits to every section of society.
That unity of purpose of northwest Ireland is evident at this conference in the broad range of speakers and sponsors, led by the regeneration body ILEX, Derry and Donegal Councils, University of Ulster at Magee, and the Strategic Investment Board.
The commitment of the new power sharing government at Stormont to a future of partnership with Irish America, and the compelling argument for investment in the northwest, will be led by Minister of Regional Development Conor Murphy MP.
The response from the political, business and governmental leaders of Boston has been impressive with our two days of discussion and celebration in the city bringing together the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Timothy Murray, the State Treasurer, Timothy Cahill, State Senate President Therese Murray and Rep. Gene O’Flaherty (an Irish Echo 40 Under 40 recipient) as well as legendary entrepreneur John Cullinane and the city’s leading business organizations, the Boston Irish Business Association, the Irish American Partnership, and many others.
Our goals are straightforward and represent a win-win for America and Ireland:
* To attract sustainable investment to northwest Ireland by highlighting its many assets including its access to European Community markets, its highly-educated workforce, its rich quality of life and its beautiful setting.
* To encourage Irish Americans to deepen their understanding of their heritage by visiting Ireland and by learning more about Ireland’s culture and history through its colleges and courses.
* To keep Irish America informed of the many opportunities and developments in northwest Ireland, now and in the future.
* At a time of global turmoil, to gift America the lessons learned by Ireland in its long journey to peace.
The Irish Echo is deeply grateful to all those who have helped make this initiative possible. Special thanks goes to the NI Bureau, Hibernia Atlantic, SBLI, Derry City Council, Massport, Invest Northern Ireland, ILEX, University of Ulster, BIBA, Irish American Partnership and the Moynihan Group as well as to our friends in the Boston Irish Reporter.
We remain resolved to ensure that the next great chapter in the story of Ireland and the United States will tell the story of how Irish Americans underpinned the hard-won peace in North Ireland with jobs, investment and bonds of mutual benefit.