US-Ireland Alliance

Class of 2012 Mitchell Scholars Arrive in Dublin

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October 2011:  The class of 2012 George J. Mitchell Scholars were welcomed to the island of Ireland with a weekend of activities in Dublin.  On Friday, 21 October, they met first with Irish Times political correspondent Deaglan de Braedun, who briefed them on Irish politics, with a special emphasis on the impending Irish presidential election.  Stephen Donnelly, Independent TD (member of the Irish parliament), briefed the Mitchells on the Irish economy and many other issues.   Marion McKeone, a former journalist and barrister, gave a talk she regularly gives to arriving Mitchells on how to culturally navigate Ireland.  

That evening, a reception was held for the Scholars at the residence of the US Ambassador to Ireland.  Charge d’affaires, John Hennessey-Niland gave welcoming remarks and US-Ireland Alliance president, Trina Vargo, introduced the Scholars.  The reception was attended by many representatives of Ireland’s institutions of higher education and several diplomats from the US Embassy.  Sean and Bernadette O hUiginn were among the guests. Before his retirement, Ambassador O hUiginn served as Ireland’s Ambassador to the US, and most recently to Italy.  Judith Heumann, the Department of State’s Special Adviser for Disability Rights was also on hand.  Others attending included:  Irish Senator Katherine Zappone; Laurence Crowley; businessman and Dragon’s Den dragon, Niall O’Farrell; Niamh Connolly, the Assistant Vice Provost of Nanyang Technologicial University; Garrett and Maeve Kelleher; John and Ceauruil  Morrissey and Mary Calpin who, along with her husband, Paul Hayes, will host the Mitchells for American Thanksgiving.  Many in the legal profession were also in the crowd including Alliance board members Brian Barrington and Joe O’Malley, barristers Michael Collins, Frank Kennedy and Barry Ward and solicitor Gavin Bonnar.

On Saturday morning, the Mitchells headed to County Wicklow, where Trina led them on the nine km, three-hour Spinc hike above Glendalough.  That evening was spent at the Olympia Theatre for a performance by Irish singer/songwriter James Vincent McMorrow.