A new program unveiled by Galway communities aims to tap into the economic potential of the Irish diaspora.
Around 30 parishes in Co.Galway are planning to reach out and invite Irish emigrants to return to the west, to retrace their roots during a “Week of Welcomes," in a bid to harness the economic potential of the Irish diaspora.
The ‘Ireland Reaching Out’ program has been funded by private and public investors and was officially launched this week by leading economist David McWilliams.
The pilot scheme will invite at least 40,0000 emigrants from parishes such as Gort, Loughrea and Portumna to return to their homeland for a series of events next summer.
Emigrants will be contacted by letter, inviting them to attend the “Week of Welcomes” in their home parish.
Each parish intends to plans a series of events which will offer returning ex-pats a strong sense of local history, culture and heritage. The visitors will stay in their native parishes, eat in local restaurants and attend traditional sporting events.
It is hoped the “Week of Welcomes” will provide an economic boost for the local economies and organizers are hopeful that the returning diaspora may become inspired to invest in their homeland as a result.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.stevenrdoyle | Mar 21, 2011, 05:58 PM EDT
I would love to return to my homeland .. my family has been here for 4 generations and always looked back to a history unknown..
oberlin | Nov 08, 2010, 03:32 PM EST
A few years ago in a bed and breakfast a local came in and asked if the yanks had left . The host replied that they had and thanks be to God - I thought they would never leave. She said this in front of me thinking that I was a local. How times have changed.
Watereskhill | Nov 07, 2010, 11:18 PM EST
This interesting "diaspora" stuff cajolling well-to-do Irish Americans and other ex-pats back to Galway to "become inspired to invest in their homeland" in this Article has a Jewish ring to it as per Jersualem: Stay at a hotel, immerse oneself in local history culture and heritage--and pass the cheque. Week of Welcomes? Greed and corruption suffocated The Celtic Tiger. Stroke the kitty on the windowsills in Galway and best of luck.
killowen | Nov 07, 2010, 02:55 PM EST
No one told em why the Tiger came to be - it helped with that Peace Agreement that shielded our Financial Masters interests in Big Kihuna's motherland and its worldwide ripple. Big Kihuna laid industry into ol Erin and got out of town when their controlling sharks left them bare. A beggar controlled by others will always be beholden. That said, what is needed is middlemen (learn from the practicioners) who would push whatever Ireland produces to far flung diaspora candidates and naturally to their friends. The ME planted having an extraordinary network never seem to be impacted ;) Any good ideas out there rather than p.... in the pool.
newcanaan | Nov 07, 2010, 06:50 AM EST
just a couple of years ago there were bad mouthing us for leaving and being openly disrespectful to America, how things have changed.