Kennedy Summer School’s Boston boost
THE Kennedy Summer School New Ross has been invited to host a discussion seminar in Boston on the week of the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
The event on April 13 is being hosted and funded by Boston College. Dr Robert Mauro, the Director of the Irish Institute at Boston College said that the pre-Summer School event will take place in Boston on this very important anniversary. Dr Mauro has previously spoken at the Summer School in New Ross on a number of occasions.
In conjunction with the Kennedy Summer School seminar in Boston, the Boston-Irish Business Council will host an event that focuses on promoting business relations between Ireland and the USA.
The title of the Kennedy Summer School session will be: ‘USIrish Relations 20 Years On From The Good Friday Agreement’. The event will be chaired by Kevin Cullen of the Boston Globe and will be held in the Boston Society of Architects.
In addition to a panel of guest speakers from the USA will be Mark Durkan, former leader of the SDLP and Deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland. Mr Durkan was a key member of the SDLP’s negotiating team in the run up to the Good Friday Agreement.
Dr Brian Murphy, Co-Director of the Kennedy Summer School for 2018, said: ‘I am delighted that the Kennedy Summer School has been invited to host an event in Boston and this can only serve to strengthen our already excellent relationship with Boston College. US involvement was central to the peace process in Northern Ireland and this event will provide an appropriate platform to discuss the future of US-Irish relations, as we reflect on the twentieth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.’
Willie Keilthy, Chairman of the Kennedy Summer School, said: ‘New Ross is further enhancing its reputation on the international stage by this invitation. It can only be beneficial to promoting the Summer School and the town in the years to come. The event in the hometown of the Kennedys will serve to further reconnect Boston to New Ross.’