New Mitchell Scholars Arrive In Ireland

US Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Faucher hosted the reception in the absence of Ambassador Dan Rooney who was attending the G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh with President Obama. 

Mr. Faucher told the assembled guests that the Ambassador wanted him to convey how highly he regards the Mitchell Scholarship program. 

US-Ireland Alliance President Trina Vargo will meet with the Ambassador this week upon his return from Pittsburgh. 

Ms. Vargo introduced Jennie LaMonte, the new Managing Director of the Scholarship program, who introduced the twelve Scholars who will be studying at various universities across the island.

Among those who attended the reception were entrepreneur and Dragons' Den dragon, Niall O'Farrell; former PD Minister of State, Liz O'Donnell; Alliance board member and Finance Director the CIE Interconnector, Tom Byrne; Fergal Naughton, Executive Director of Group Operations at Glen Dimplex; Tim O'Connor, Secretary General to the President; Oonagh Desire and Aideen Howard, the Development Director and Literary Director of the Abbey Theatre; Irish Times Education Editor Sean Flynn; Denis Staunton, who most recently served as the Irish Times' correspondent in the US; former Irish Times US correspondent and author Conor O'Clery; artist Charlie Whisker and novelist Julia Kelly, several representatives from the various universities on the island, and several members of the Alliance's Young Irish Leaders program, a program initiated by the Alliance six years ago to connect Mitchell Scholars with their peers on the island.

On Friday, the Scholars sat in on the morning news meeting at the Irish Times and had the opportunity to ask editor Geraldine Kennedy about the inner workings of the newspaper. 

They learned about Irish life from Marion McKeone, heard about the Irish economy from Danny McCoy of IBEC, and about Irish theater from NUIG professor Patrick Lonergan. 

They attended a talk given by Enda Walsh at the Abbey Theatre as well as a performance of Mr. Walsh's The New Electric Ballroom.  They toured Kilmainham Gaol and the Yeats exhibit at the National Library of Ireland.  Two of the Scholars were the guests of Sean Dorgan, Chairman of Ulster Bank, at the All-Ireland final.  Next month, the Mitchells will attend a performance of the Beauty Queen of Leenane at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, and meet with actress Geraldine Hughes following the performance.  They will also gather in Cork to enjoy the Guinness Jazz Festival.  Plans are underway for Thanksgiving in Dublin as well as a trip to Brussels.