Earlier this year, Falls Church, Virginia, resident Frank Giaccio, who is 11, went viral with a letter he wrote to President Donald Trump offering to mow the White House lawn free of charge, saying he respected the president’s business background and noting that he runs his own small grass-cutting business in his neighborhood. This September, the president took him up on the … [Read more...] about 11-Year-Old Cuts White House Lawn
Politics
New Irish Prime Minister Willing to Work with Trump
Leo Varadkar made history in June when he was elected taoiseach, becoming the first openly gay prime minister of Ireland as well as the first prime minister of Indian heritage and the youngest ever elected. Varadkar, a member of Fine Gael and a fiscal conservative, seeks to become another centrist face of the European Union, à la French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron, a friend … [Read more...] about New Irish Prime Minister Willing to Work with Trump
New Roles for Irish Diplomats
Irish ambassador to Great Britain Dan Mulhall (above right) is set to replace Anne Anderson as the Republic of Ireland’s 18th representative in the United States as part of a rotation in the senior ranks of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Barbara Jones (right), consul general of Ireland in New York, will take over as the ambassador to Mexico, with responsibilities for … [Read more...] about New Roles for Irish Diplomats
Entrepreneurial Emigrants Invited Home
Returning diaspora who wish to kickstart new businesses on Irish soil can now apply for support with a new government-funded mentoring scheme, Minister for Diaspora and International Development Joe McHugh announced in May. Funding of up to €100,000 ($111,000) will be provided to the initiative over the next 12 months as part of a new effort from the Department of Foreign … [Read more...] about Entrepreneurial Emigrants Invited Home
Brian Burns Named New Irish Ambassador
Philanthropist, businessman, and Irish America Hall of Fame member Brian Burns was officially announced as President Donald Trump’s appointment for ambassador to Ireland in January. He was tapped for the position in November, well before Trump’s inauguration on January 17 and must still undergo a lengthy approval process. Eighty-year-old Massachusetts-native Burns is the … [Read more...] about Brian Burns Named New Irish Ambassador