2024 Leadership Mission

September 30 - OCTOBER 2 | GALWAY & MAYO

The 2024 Leadership Mission evaluated Partnership programs, including schools, universities, and community development organizations in counties Galway and Mayo over three days. It was a chance to meet the people benefiting directly from Partnership investment and to gain insight into the grassroots efficacy of our work. It was also an opportunity to thank donors, friends, and partners across the Atlantic for their ongoing investment in Ireland’s future.

Our delegation visited Partnership-funded programs including primary schools in Galway and Mayo, the Empathy initiative at the University of Galway, scholarships at Atlantic Technological University Mayo campus in Castlebar, and the Mary Robinson Centre in Ballina, engaging with leaders in academia, business, sports and the arts, senior government officials, and Partnership friends.

Principal Wayne Walsh and students at St. Muredach’s College, Ballina

You see how we are all connected, and through the connections of the Irish American Partnership good things are being done on the island of Ireland.
— US Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin

The Partnership is proud to have distributed $600,000 in grants during this trip, bringing our year-to-date funding for Ireland to $2.6 million. The awards were announced at a reception culminating the visit at the Mount Falcon Estate in County Mayo with the United States Ambassador to Ireland, Claire D. Cronin in attendance.

 

DAY ONE
Our delegation spent an inspiring day traveling through Connemara to meet the pupils and teachers at Ardmore National School, Carna, and Scoil Cholmáin, Muighinis. We enjoyed a wonderful welcome from the leadership team and visited with members of the Benedictine community at Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Gardens. From there we headed to Druid Theatre Company, cultural anchor of Galway, where we met with the FUEL artists-in-residency program.

DAY ONE GALLERY