For the first time in 16 years, Derry and Donegal councils will be represented by female mayors at the Golden Bridges transatlantic conference in Boston.
Niamh Kennedy, Mayor of Co. Donegal and Lilian Seenoi-Barr, Mayor of Derry and the first person of color to head a Council in the North of Ireland, will bring a message of cross-border co-operation and economic progress post-Brexit to the gala luncheon which this year is earmarked for Babson College in Wellesley, MA on 15 November.
Backed by Ulster University, Bushmills Distillery and Tourism Ireland, the Boston gathering focuses on Northwest Ireland - location of the most active cross-border governmental and academic partnerships on the island of Ireland.
Also taking part will be the recently-appointed Chair of Invest Northern Ireland John Healy, who hails from Derry, and Boston 'All Souls' author Michael Patrick MacDonald.
On the evening before conference, Consul General of Ireland in Boston Síghle FitzGerald will host a reception for attendees visiting from Ireland and their supporters in Massachusetts. Among those being honored at the reception in the Irish Consulate will be Rep. John Lawn who heads up the Irish Caucus in the State Legislature. A first generation Irish America, Rep Lawn led a 60-strong delegation from the legislature to Dublin in 2023.
DONEGAL AMBASSADOR: Mayor Niamh Kennedy
Gene O'Flaherty, Honorary Chair of the Golden Bridges conference and former State Legislator, told the Irish Echo the Boston Irish would be rolling out the red carpet for their visitors.
"Boston looks forward once again to hosting the Golden Bridges Conference and welcoming delegates from the Northwest of Ireland to our city," he said. "Our goal continues to be to showcase the Northwest of Ireland as a place to do business while enjoying the culture and the beautiful landscape. Many advancements in arts, education and commerce are occurring and the annual conference gives us all an update on that work and the pathway to future collaborations."
For tickets and more information about Golden Bridges, go to the official conference website.
Andrea Haughian, Executive Vice President, Head of Americas at @InvestNI spoke at the 15th annual Golden Bridges Conference in Boston on Friday 17th November.
Key note speaker @USEnvoyNI highlighted #trade, #investment and #tourism opportunities in the Northwest region. pic.twitter.com/hywO0eJWCg
— Invest Northern Ireland - Americas (@InvestNI_AMER) November 20, 2023
