Aug13Thu

From 2m visitors to zero (and back again) – Big Irish Campfire to discuss transatlantic tourism woes

The Irish Echo

Last year, two million visitors from North America visited the Emerald Isle.

That stunning figure – fully one-in-ten of all Americans who travelled to Europe on vacation made Ireland their destination — was the fruits of two decades of hard work by Tourism Ireland, the cross-border agency set up as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Fast forward to the summer of 2020, however, and, courtesy of our new lodger Covid-19, the total number of American holiday-makers in Ireland would hardly fill a Paddywagon tour bus.

For while there is no complete ban on travellers from the US travelling to Ireland — though that option is being mulled over in government corridors in Dublin — the necessity to quarantine for 14 days on arrival means only the bravest, long-stay vacationers are boarding the EI 104 from JFK to Dublin.

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Aug05Wed

Book of Condolences

Saddened by the loss of John Hume, the Consulate General of Ireland in NY has opened a virtual book of condolence for those in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and beyond who might wish to share their sympathies with his family.

Aug03Mon

John Hume, architect of peace process, dies aged 83

The Irish Times
Former SDLP leader and Nobel laureate John Hume has died aged 83.

The current SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described him as Ireland’s “most significant and consequential political leader” of the 20th century.

Mr Hume, who spearheaded the finally successful efforts to end the violence of the Troubles and who is viewed as the architect of the 1998 Belfast Agreement, was in a nursing home and had been ill for a long time.

He is survived by his wife Pat and children, his children Terese, Aine, Aidan, John and Mo, his brothers and sisters and grandchildren.

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Aug03Mon

Blog on John Hume, an Irish peacemaker and European statesman

By Ambassador Daniel Mulhall
29 March 2019

“The European Union is the best example in the history of the world of conflict resolution” – John Hume in the European Parliament, 4th of May 2004

Throughout last year, I was involved in a number of events marking the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. That anniversary represented an important opportunity to remind people of what was achieved in 1998 and of its legacy in the form of two decades of peace in Northern Ireland as well as greatly improved relations on the island of Ireland, and between Ireland and Britain.

One political leader from that time who, I believe, deserves special credit is John Hume, who was a deserved recipient, alongside David Trimble, of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize. I have been involved in a number of discussions following the screening of Maurice Fitzpatrick’s documentary film, John Hume in America, most recently in Hartford, Connecticut, at the invitation of Congressman John Larson and last year in Springfield with Congressman Richie Neal, who chairs the Congressional Friends of Ireland. I have also reviewed the book that accompanied the film for the Irish Times. 

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Jul30Thu

Irish American leaders pay tribute to John Lewis

By Irish Echo Staff

Over sixty leaders of the Irish American community have signed on to a letter mourning the death of Congressman John Lewis and have called on Irish America not to sit on the sidelines as America seeks to end racial discrimination.

The letter also calls for boycott of “Irish Lives Matter” t-shirts

The community leaders, according to a release, represent Irish America’s broad civil, political and educational community and have banded together to mourn the passing of Congressman John Lewis.

Click HERE to read more. Click HERE to read the full letter.

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