Martin O’Malley, the Governor of US State of Maryland is on a 3-day visit to Ireland
Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle, recently met with the Governor of the US State of Maryland, Martin O’Malley in Dublin to discuss the current Irish-US relationship. Governor O’Malley’s visit to Ireland coincides with recent visit of the First Lady of the United States and the Obama Family to County Wicklow and the upcoming anniversary events of President Kennedy’s visit to Ireland.
Speaking after meeting the Governor, Deputy Doyle said, “It was a pleasure to have Governor O’Malley in Ireland again this week as both Ireland and the United States of America celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the arrival of President John F. Kennedy’s historic visit to Ireland.”
“Having met with the Governor earlier this year in his residence in the Annapolis, the Maryland State Capital during the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, it was an honour to have Governor O’Malley make a return visit here to Ireland again to discuss the great links, both culturally and economically that connect Ireland and the United States.”
“I have met Governor O’Malley on several occasions before, for the first time many years ago when he was the Mayor of Baltimore and again later when he became Governor of Maryland. He is no stranger to Ireland having visited Ireland before during his first term a number of years ago.”
“The Governor’s own great-grandfather, also Martin O’Malley, left County Galway in the 1870s for Arizona in the mid-west before moving to Pittsburgh on the east coast of America. It is because of this deep-rooted connection that Governor O’Malley takes a very deep interest in Ireland and has always been eager to engage with elected representatives here to discuss the ways forward for both Ireland and the US to continue to work together.”
“During his visit to Ireland, he gave a speech in Iveagh House, met with the Taoiseach, spoke to the UCD Smurfit Business School, signed an educational Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Maryland, amongst other engagements. The Governor’s speech, entitled ‘The US-Ireland Relationship: Past, Present and Future’, where Governor O’Malley outlined the deep roots of the Irish-American relationship, from New Ross to Boston, from the Oireachtas to The White House. The speech was recorded for last broadcast by RTE Radio One.”
“I was delighted to have had the opportunity to meet again with Governor O’Malley, this time around here in Ireland and I look forward to see him continue to work on the ever-important Irish-US relationship that continues to be strengthened”, concluded Deputy Doyle.