February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The Pittsburgh Steelers owner’s flight to Ireland follows a brief confirmation hearing and a final unanimous voice vote in the U.S. Senate. Ambassador Rooney will also celebrate his 77th birthday later this month in Ireland.
The co-founder of the American Ireland Fund breezed through the confirmation process. With his son and wife behind him, the still ambassador-designate Rooney was introduced by his home state Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter.
Known for his rather monastic like tendencies, including walking to work, early to bed and early to rise, and a profound reticence to talk about himself despite a lifetime of accomplishments, Rooney did offer a few insights to the Senate committee.
“If ever there was a rousing justification for diplomacy and an example for other conflicts around the world, it is the Irish peace process and its combination of diplomats, presidents, taoiseachs, prime ministers, political leaders, community leaders, church leaders and especially quiet heroes who never gave up hope,” said Rooney in his opening statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
There were a few quips about football and the Steelers once again dominating in the Super Bowl. Senator Specter, for one, teased the circumspect Rooney.
“We got Dan to talk, you see it’s possible,” he said.
Spotted in a Washington restaurant accustomed to the steak and power broker set, the wealthy yet ascetic Rooney ordered a grilled cheese from the child’s menu while in the city for his confirmation hearings.
Rooney, a Republican for most of his life, campaigned hard for Barack Obama at a critical time leading into the Pennsylvania primary when Hillary Clinton still appeared to be heading for the Democratic nomination.
Now Rooney said he will try and use his powers of persuasion to stop the hemorrhaging of jobs and businesses from Ireland so that both prosperity and political stability is not undermined, this especially in the North.
“Today, Ireland, with the peace process largely intact despite recent atrocities, faces new challenges as a small island buffeted by the winds of recession and financial turmoil. While America and Ireland remain great friends, we should not take our special relationship for granted,” said Rooney.
The Rooney family has maintained a home in Ireland near Newry, County Down, for many years and has often spent time there during the summer.
Being Ambassador means now staying in the ambassador’s residence in Phoenix Park and working at the embassy in Ballsbridge, but Rooney has promised to get out of Dublin and spend time all over the country.
Although much of the day to day operations of the Steelers is now in the hands of his son, Arthur Rooney, Ambassador Rooney will be taking time from his new job to check in on the Steeler training camp later this summer.
The extended Rooney family is very proud of their father and grandfather, but according to one daughter-in-law it will be the ambassador’s wife, Pat, who will also be seriously missed in the Pittsburgh area.
Grandma was always willing to make the carpool pick up if someone can’t get there in time, she explained.