The White House has announced that it has nominated Missouri lawyer Kevin O’Malley as the next US ambassador to Ireland.

The move brings to an end the longest period for which the diplomatic role has been vacant.

A well-known trial lawyer with a long record of public service, Mr O’Malley, a second-generation Irish American, is to fill the role almost 18 months after the last US ambassador, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, left Dublin.

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White house defends ambassador appointment delay

The White House Chief of Staff has said the delay in nominating a US Ambassador to Ireland does not mean Ireland is not a priority for the Obama administration.

Denis McDonough said Ireland and Northern Ireland remained a fundamental national priority for the US, and a personal one for president Barack Obama.

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