Boston’s premier US-Ireland business event, Golden Bridges, returned in-person to Boston for the first time since 2019 on Friday, November 18, at a conference luncheon event in the city's Seaport Hotel.
The Golden Bridges conference has a proud history of strengthening economic ties and bolstering transatlantic connections between Ireland’s Northwest and Boston.
Great to connect at #GoldenBridges & talk tourism development & new opportunities in #Donegal & Northwest with Brendan McBride,Croithli whiskey distillery & Anne Marie Conlon Head of Economic Development @donegalcouncil @crolly180 @aislingevents pic.twitter.com/w2dQohNxzE
— Alison Metcalfe (@metcalfealison1) November 18, 2022
Friday’s conference featured a high-powered delegation of business, civil and political leaders from Derry and Donegal who showcased the very best of the Ireland Northwest region to Boston’s business leaders. Since 2019, Ireland’s Northwest region has made impressive economic strides that have positioned the region as an important global investment hub and gateway for companies looking to expand across Irish, UK and EU markets.
BEACONS OF BOSTON'S IRISH COMMUNITY: Mike and Collette Quinlin received the Dave Burke Memorial Award at a Golden Bridges reception in the Irish Consulate from Dave's widow Pat (right)
These economic developments include:
- The special economic status granted to the North of Ireland due to Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol agreed by the UK and EU.
- The opening of several leading universities and medical institutions including Atlantic Technological University in Letterkenny and the New School of Medicine in Derry
- The initiation of the Derry & Strabane City Deal
- Major new investments in the Northern Ireland region by FinTru, 3D Issue, Seagate, Abbott and others.
TRANSATLANTIC GREETINGS: U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Clare Cronin from Boston made a virtual address to the Golden Bridges gathering
Councilor Liam Blaney, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council believes the Golden Bridges Event helped nurture renewed linkages between the Northwest Ireland and the U.S. “The world has changed so much in the last years, the Irish diaspora, something that we cherish, has been disrupted and disjointed, but we were delighted to again gather for the Golden Bridges event and recognise the importance of maintaining our diaspora links and striving to develop new and fruitful partnerships.”
Tá @UdarasnaG & @crolly180, ceann dár gcuid cliantchomhlachtaí breá feiceálach ag gach bord ag ócáid Na Droichid Órga anseo i mBoston, dírithe ar nascanna a dhaingniú idir an Iarthuaisceart & Boston #goldenbridges pic.twitter.com/Fwpx1PiV4v
— Údarás na Gaeltachta (@UdarasnaG) November 18, 2022
Andrea Haughian, Executive Vice President and Head of Americas at Invest Northern Ireland, who spoke at Golden Bridges emphasised the wealth of talent in the region. “Invest NI is committed to continuously driving growth and innovation," she said. "Having the Golden Bridges event back and in person is a remarkable opportunity to nurture existing and new partnerships across the Atlantic and to showcase the Northwest region as an incredible place to live, work, study, visit and invest.”
Golden Bridges is backed by partners in both the U.S. and Ireland, led by Derry City and Strabane District Council, Donegal County Council, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Babson College, Invest Northern Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Northern Ireland Bureau, Irish American Partnership, Benchmark Strategies and Ulster University.
