The Hill News

Ten years ago I travelled to the U.S. as a participant of the Washington Ireland Program for Service & Leadership â€" a project that supports and inspires young leaders from diverse backgrounds across Ireland and Northern Ireland during a summer in Washington, D.C. It is a great honor to return to the capital a decade later for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly to promote and maintain the special connections between our people.

Our social, political and cultural histories are intertwined and the U.S. has played a pivotal role in the Northern Irish peace process and the establishment of a power-sharing Executive and Assembly of which I am proud to be a member.

This support has made a significant contribution towards the ongoing transformation of Northern Ireland. The dedication of the U.S. government and groups such as the Friends of Ireland Caucus and the International Fund for Ireland have motivated and! inspired political representatives and citizens across Ireland that peace and progress were achievable.

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