Kevin F. O’Malley nominated as U.S. ambassador

By Irish Echo Staff

The White House has named Missouri’s Kevin F. O’Malley is its choice to be next U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.

A release from the White House Press Office Thursday stated: “Kevin F. O'Malley, of Missouri, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Ireland.”

O’Malley’s name has been sent to the Senate for confirmation.

O’Malley is an attorney who has been a law professor at both Washington University and St. Louis University.

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He formerly served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and a Special Attorney in Organized Crime and Racketeering in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

President Obama said in reference to O’Malley and two other appointees: "I am proud to nominate such impressive men and women to these important roles, and I am grateful they have agreed to lend their considerable talents to this Administration. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."

The naming of O’Malley brings closure to an exceptionally long hiatus at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin during which there was no ambassador in residence. Ambassador Dan Rooney took leave of Dublin before the end of 2012.

In the intervening time, there was considerable speculation as to the identity of Rooney’s successor.

O’Malley’s name, however, was not in the forefront of the list of possible names and his appointment, as a result, has a surprise element to it.

 

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