merrion street

The Global Irish Economic Forum 2011 took place on the 7

and 8

of October in Dublin Castle.

Invited participants included members of the Global Irish Network, established in 2009 after the first Global forum in Farmleigh, and a number of senior Irish based representatives of business and culture.

The primary purposes of the 2011 Forum were to:

• Engage fully with the Irish Diaspora in developing Ireland’s global business and trade relations; 
• Discuss face-to-face the Government’s  priorities for economic renewal with key members of the international business community;
• Strengthen ties with the Irish Diaspora as a key part of the Government’s efforts to restore Ireland’s international reputation abroad.  

MerrionStreet.ie were on location and spoke to a number of participants, including:

• Irial Finan – Executive VP Coca Cola
• Prof. Brian Norton – President of DIT
• Gabriel Byrne – Actor and Cultural Ambassador for Ireland
• Dara Ó Briain – Comedian and TV Presenter
• Orla Casey – Chair, Irish Network DC
• John Collison – Founder, Stripe.
• Minister Leo Varadkar
• Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore

You can view the MerrionStreet.ie feature below...

Among the key announcements at the forum were:

• The Gathering 2013 – Minister Varadkar announced a major tourism initiative to encourage people to come to Ireland.
• WorldIrish.com – www.worldirish.com was launched as a social network for “Irish people and those who think Irish”
• MBS Asian Business Programme – The Farmleigh Fellowship announced a masters programme which over the next five years, aims to equip 1,000 young Irish professionals with the business, culture and communication skills needed to successfully trade in Asia

View Taoiseach Enda Kenny's opening address to the Forum below:

View Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore's opening address to the Forum below:

Former US President Bill Clinton also attended.