Cowen to visit New York and Atlanta this week

by Meredith Regan

Brian Cowen is set to visit New York and Atlanta this week

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen will make a three day visit to the United States this week including stops in New York City and Atlanta, Georgia. The Taoiseach’s most recent visit was in March 2010, when he met with Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton as well as President Obama to promote economic partnerships between the US and Ireland. Cowen will arrive in New York on Monday. After meeting with various community and business leaders on Tuesday, a reception will be held in his honor at the Consulate General of Ireland, where many from the local Irish community are expected to be in attendance.

From New York the Taoiseach will travel to Atlanta, where he will officially launch a new Irish Consulate in the city. The establishment of this much-awaited consulate has been put on hold due to the economic decline over the past few years. Atlanta will become the first new Irish Consulate in the United States since San Francisco in 1933. Mr. Cowen will name the new consul general at a luncheon hosted by the local chapter of the Ireland Chamber of Commerce United States and the Metro Atlanta Chamber at the Ritz-Carlton hotel downtown, according to an e-mail to local reporters by chamber President Kevin Conboy. Unconfirmed reports indicate that diplomat Paul Gleeson will be enlisted in the key position of consul general.

Atlanta has a thriving Irish community, including ongoing GAA activity and several other Irish community and business organizations. It is believed that Georgia and the south will hold new opportunities for Irish citizens who wish to leave Ireland for the US, as they broaden their horizons past the traditional Irish destinations. The new consulate will allow Irish Citizens better access to their home country, especially from other Irish strongholds such as Texas and Florida.

The trip by Cowen, as is the trend in Ireland given the current financial climate, will come under increased scrutiny. An Irish Independent report last month stated that up to half of the cost of Transport Minster Noel Dempsey's St. Patrick's week visit to Atlanta and nearby Savannah was left out of official records. After the omission was pointed out, Mr. Dempsey's office said in a statement that it wished to clarify that the costs published on his website related to the minister only.