Top Irish American advocates in the Boston area have pledged to step up efforts to forge links with Northwest Ireland.
The senior figures in the Irish American community all serve as Honorary Chairs of the annual Golden Bridges conference which builds alliances between Massachusetts and the counties of Donegal and Derry.
Now in its 18th year, the gathering is scheduled this year for Thursday 12 November in Babson College, Wellesley, MA. Babson, ranked Number Two in the WSJ annual American university listings and regarded as an entrepreneurial powerhouse is proud of its close links to Ireland.
In a letter issued to media in Northwest Ireland, the Honorary Chairs write:
For almost two decades now, as ambassadors for the annual Golden Bridges conference, we have welcomed political leaders from across the political divide and business leaders from all communities in Northwest Ireland. In turn, they have received a bipartisan céad míle fáilte from our political and business representatives.
Northwest Ireland has a great story of resilience, rebirth and reconciliation – between communities and across borders – to share with Irish America. In our view, not enough is known about the growth of Magee College in Derry or of the rise of the Atlantic Technological University in Co. Donegal. Likewise more Americans need to be introduced to your unbeatable tourism proposition while potential investors should be better-informed about the top-class talent pool and cutting-edge entrepreneurs in Northwest Ireland.
As ambassadors for Golden Bridges, which fosters mutually beneficial partnerships between Northwest Ireland and Greater Boston, we write to invite representatives of the community, cultural and business sectors in Derry and Donegal to join us in Massachusetts for our 18th annual conference on 12 November 2026.
At our 2025 conference luncheon we were honoured to be joined by Ministers Charlie McConalogue TD and Dr. Caoimhe Archibald MLA as well as by the Mayors of both Derry City & Strabane and Co Donegal.
We always tell our audience that to really ‘get’ Northwest Ireland, they have to travel there. In that respect we’re delighted that the annual Boston Irish Business Association trade mission to Ireland will this year include Northwest Ireland.
We will continue to commit our time and energy to the vital work of informing our networks about the compelling offering of Northwest Ireland and the necessity for Irish Americans to support the peace process.
Of course, our job is made easier when representatives from Northwest Ireland join us to make their case first-hand — you are the best ambassadors for the incredible progress you have made since the signing of the Good Friday Agrement.
The open letter is signed:
Eugene O’Flaherty, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, Boston, MA
Marty Walsh, Executive Director, National Hockey League Players Association, Boston, MA
Martina Curtin, Chairperson Irish Cultural Center of Greater Boston
Drew O’Brien, Partner, Seven Letter, Boston, MA
Sean Moynihan, Founder Moynihan Group, Boston, MA
John Foley, Foley Law Offices, Boston, MA
Kevin Sullivan, Vice President of Strategic Corporate Engagement, Babson College, Wellseley, MA
Mary Sugrue, President Irish American Partnership, Boston, MA
Maureen Bennett, Boston, MA
Brian T. Kelly, Partner Nixon Peabody, Boston, MA
Cathal Conlon, Vice President of Marketing, New England Revolution, Boston, MA
John Donovan, Chair Boston Belfast Sister City Initiative, Boston, MA
Kathryn Ellis, Director University of Massachusetts Innovation Institute, Amherst, MA
Laura Hamilton, President Boston Irish Business Asssociation, Boston, MA
Rob McCarron, President, Association of Independent Colleges & Universities in Massachusetts, Boston, MA
Sara Stanton, Managing Director Cara Group Travel, Boston, MA
Ryan McDermott, Partner Prism Benefits, Boston, MA
Nuala McGowan, Senior Director of Research Finance & Compliance, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
