After only the shortest of timeouts, outgoing Ancient Order of Hibernians' President Danny O'Connor is to take on another high-level role, this time with the newly-constituted Ohio Ireland Trade Commission.
One of 15 Ireland Trade Commissions established across the U.S. - on the initiative of Senator Mark Daly who chairs the Irish Seanad — the Ohio body boasts nine senior Irish American figures from across the state. O'Connell is one of three appointees made by Governor Mike DeWine to the Commission which will enjoy a four year term: 1 August this year to 31 July 2029.
“It’s a really exciting day for me. They called me yesterday, and so I knew it was going to happen today, so I was pretty excited,” O’Connell told Ohio radio station WKBN 27 on Friday past.
A native of Youngstown, OH, O'Connell, the director of support services at Youngstown State University, has already identified third level links between Ohio and Ireland as a priority.
"I was encouraged by YSU President Bill Johnson,a former US Congressman who understands the value of a higher education and a representative on the commission, to put my name forward for the appointment," O'Connell told the Irish Echo.
"I’ve worked with Governor Mike DeWine for more the 18 years on Irish American issues beginning when he served on the Senate Judiciary Committee and am absolutely honored to represent the Governor on the Ohio-Ireland Trade Commission."
Connections between Ireland and Ohio were boosted in 2023 by the launch of a direct service between Dublin and Cleveland.
The former AOH leader also plans to encourage "a two-way street" of investment, trade and exchanges between his native state and Ireland. "We have much to teach each other," he says. "With over 11m people, Ohio has a larger population than Ireland and, of course, the U.S. is the world's biggest economy but nevertheless, we have a lot to learn from the Irish business community and certainly our state will want a share of the investment coming out of Ireland. So this is very much a two-way street."
According to Ohio State Representative Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, who was also appointed to the Commission, Ohio imports around $18bn in goods from the Republic of Ireland and sends about $6bn in service exports and an additional $540m in goods exports in return.
The Commission consists of nine members, with three appointed from the House, three from the Senate and three from the governor.
