Edward Walsh was confirmed as the next US Ambassador to Ireland in a roll call vote in the US Senate on Wednesday evening, June 4.
Walsh's nomination was confirmed by a vote of 57 to 38.
The vote comes after the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee held Walsh's confirmation hearing on May 1 and approved his nomination 12 - 0 on May 8.
All ambassadorial nominations must be confirmed by the US Senate.
US President Donald Trump announced Walsh as his choice to be the next US Ambassador to Ireland in December.
"Edward is the President of the Walsh Company, a very successful nationwide construction and real estate firm," Trump said in his December 14 announcement on Truth Social.
"He is a great philanthropist in his local community, and previously served as the Chairman of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority Board.
"He is also a Champion Golfer, a very good asset for the Ambassador of Ireland to have.
"Do well Ed!"
Walsh is a resident of Bedminster, New Jersey, where the US President's Trump National Golf Club, of which Walsh is a member, is located.
According to the Washington Post, Walsh donated $25,000 to Trump's 2024 election campaign, while his wife Lynn Walsh also donated $25,000.
Introducing Walsh during his confirmation hearing on May 1, Senator Lindsey Graham made note of Walsh's friendship with Trump.
"He's a very close friend to President Trump, so to our friends in Ireland, you're getting one of the closest friends that President Trump has, and that will benefit you because when Ed picks up the phone, President Trump will answer."
He went on to reiterate: "To the people of Ireland, again, you'll be getting one of the closest friends that President Trump has and in this business, that matters."
Later in the confirmation hearing, Walsh was pressed several times on how he would manage Ireland's stance on Israel.
"I look forward to working constructively to engage on the issues that are contributing to the tensions between Israel and Ireland," Walsh said in response at one point.
Meanwhile, in the testimony he submitted ahead of his confirmation hearing, Walsh said that one of his "foremost priorities will be to enhance the economic partnership between the United States and Ireland."
He also said that he would be "committed to expanding the cultural and educational exchanges" between the US and Ireland.
After noting the recent anniversaries of Ireland-US diplomatic relations as well as the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, Walsh said: "And still, there is much work to be done."
He added: "I am also fortunate that I can exercise diplomacy from the green lawns of Ireland’s golf courses."
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