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Kelly pounds beat at Clinton event

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Following his visit to Belfast to discuss economic investments, Kelly is back in New York this week to play a key role in the Clinton Global Initiative session on Northern Ireland.
Former President Bill Clinton will host the session. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Kelly’s boos, is also in New York for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly.
Secretary Clinton is expected to follow in Kelly’s footsteps to Belfast in the near future.
Declan Kelly was a key fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s presidential run, and is clearly a confidante of both Clintons.
Loretta Brennan Glucksman, chairwoman of the American Ireland Fund, accompanied Kelly on his trip to Belfast.
She said one of the toughest initial difficulties Kelly faces is having to minimize the belief that the new envoy has a magic wand to solve the economic issues of Northern Ireland.
“There are those who think Declan’s going to whip out his checkbook and make all the problems go away, and that’s just not the case,” Brennan Glucksman told the Echo.
Brennan Glucksman said early indications were very positive with regard to the acceptance of Kelly by both communities in the North.
So far there has been no carping about a Tipperary man coming in and taking a leadership role in how Belfast can move from an economy largely based on a foundation of government funding.
“The stereotype of the dynamics have changed so much so that it’s very clearly discerned that what he is attempting to work on is an economic effort, and that will benefit everyone,” she said.
Brennan Glucksman said she understood that Declan Kelly would only deal with economic issues and that if there was any political heavy lifting to be done, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would offer her personal input.
As to a possible visit by Mrs. Clinton, Kelly has told reporters that he thinks the Secretary of State will try and get to Ireland as soon as her schedule allows.

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