The Irish Network Boston (IN Boston) is an organization based in Boston that is open to all people of Irish descent or those who simply have an interest in Ireland. Now in its third year, IN Boston's mission is to strengthen the economic, social and cultural ties between Ireland and the US and to harness the energy and talents of the Irish Diaspora in Boston and surrounding region.
The Irish Government, through the Consulate in Boston, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA continue to support the efforts of this organization. Commenting on the role it plays in the region, Consul General of Ireland to Boston Breandán Ó Caollaí said, “IN Boston provides an opportunity for those in the Irish/Irish-American community here to actively promote links between Ireland and New England."
The Consulate has worked closely with the network since its inception in 2010 and continues to collaborate with them to host events of an Irish interest in the city. One such joint venture is the upcoming commemoration of Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney on December 11 in the Boston Public Library. It’s these types of collaborations that the Consul General believes create “a strong foundation for the establishment of new and lasting links into the future.” Ó Caollaí remarked, “I think collaboration between all the representative Irish organizations (immigrant support, business, social, cultural, sport and all others) in Boston is crucial to the continued vibrancy of our community."
The key factor of IN Boston’s growth, Ó Caollaí believes, lies in the network’s ability to attract members from a very broad range of backgrounds and “its openness not only to those of Irish descent but to all those with an interest in Ireland.” On its future role in Massachusetts he commented, “it has gone from strength to strength in 2013 and I’d expect it to continue in 2014 as it has an excellent executive board with an ambitious agenda.”
For more visit www.irishnetworkboston.org.
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