Kansas City Irish Market marks 122nd year

The face of Browne's Irish Market and Deli

The annual Scotch-Irish festival, Feis Chlobhair

Kansas City – Browne’s Irish Market and Deli celebrated 122 years of business on June 6 with a street fair that included live music, food, drink, and, of course, a “Best Legs in a Kilt” contest.

The store, which was named North America’s oldest Irish business by the Irish Trade Board, was founded in 1887 by Ed and Mary Flavin. Currently, Browne’s Irish Market & Deli is owned by the Flavin’s great-granddaughter, Kerry Browne and her husband, John McClain.

While the business’ longevity is impressive, what seems even more remarkable is that the business continues to thrive during the tough economy. According to Browne, the business hasn’t “felt the crunch that everybody else feels.”

“We found our own niche and found our own crowd,” Browne told The Kansas City Business Journal. “We have several generations of customers.”

Browne explained that minor details such as location and size have changed during the business’ extensive history. There has always been one constant throughout the store’s history though: family.

“It’s truly a family life,” Browne said. “We get to be with our family, and our customers are our friends. Few people get to live their dream every day, and I think we do.”

Cooper Industries seeks to relocate to Ireland

New York – On June 9, Cooper Industries revealed that its board approved a plan to relocate from Bermuda to Ireland. Should the company’s shareholders approve the move, Cooper Industries will become the third largest industrial company to move its corporation out of Bermuda.

The electrical products manufacturer justified the move by citing the need to better manage its cost structure through taxes and regulatory costs. According to Reuters, “Cooper said Ireland has a stable legal and regulatory environment and a solid network of tax treaties with trading partners.”

Last week, in a near identical move, Ingersoll-Rand Co. shareholders also approved a transfer from Bermuda to Ireland. The following day, Standard & Poor's announced that it would remove Ingersoll from its S&P 500 index, as Ireland-based companies are ineligible for inclusion in the widely tracked index.

Spokespeople for Cooper explained that the company will remain subject to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements as well as corporate governance rules of the NYSE. Additionally, it expects to continue trading there under the symbol "CBE,” and reporting results in U.S. dollars.

Ireland chooses Atlanta for location of newest Irish Consulate

Atlanta – Ireland has decided on Atlanta, Georgia to house its newest U.S. consulate, recognizing the city as a growing global business center.

According to Mayor Shirley Franklin, there are a number of changes that must be made in preparation for the new consulate. Ultimately, Franklin plans to adopt strategies utilized by the Emerald Isle.

For starters, in an attempt to ensure that the city’s workforce can compete in the future, Franklin plans to follow Ireland’s lead and continue to place an emphasis on public education through investing.

Additionally, as the city grows, Atlanta hopes to formulate environmental policies similar to those of Ireland that foster environmentally conscious development. 

“The consulate’s selection of Atlanta suggests that we’re pointed in the right direction, but that doesn’t mean we’ve gotten done everything we need to do,” said Franklin during a speech at the Ireland Chamber of Commerce of the USA’s monthly luncheon, as quoted by GlobalAtlanta.com.

Clover ready for annual Scotch-Irish fest

Clover – Saturday, June 13 marks the 13th annual Scotch-Irish festival, Feis Chlobhair, held in Clover, South Carolina at the Clover Memorial Stadium.

The day-long event includes a number of activities and attractions including everything from Scottish Highland and Irish dancing to a combination of traditional Celtic and contemporary rock music from the band Uncle Hamish and the Hooligans. Also, Clover Memorial Stadium’s large, grassy field provides an excellent setting for heavy athletic competitions such as the rugby tournament and traditional Highland games.

Boasting a wide variety of events, the festival is a major draw for Clover, bringing in around 3,000 to 4,000 spectators and participants each year. Festival chairperson Carla Pendleton is pretty confident that this year’s fest will have similar results.

“We're expecting that many again this year but sometimes it depends on the weather,” Pendleton told Heraldonline.com.

The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

New Irish pub and restaurant, Féile, opens in Wells

Wells – On May 5, after six months of renovations, owner Andrew Robar opened up his family-oriented Irish eatery, Féile Restaurant &%