Welcome Reception in Honor of H.E. Anne Anderson, the Irish Ambassador to the United States 2013
On Wednesday evening, September 11, 2013, nearly 100 of Washington, D.C.’s most influential business, philanthropic, diplomatic and political leaders gathered at the elegant Georgetown residence of Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley for a reception to welcome H.E. Anne Anderson, the new Irish Ambassador to the United States.
The evening featured opening remarks by Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley, the United States’ first woman Ambassador to Portugal. She welcomed Ambassador Anne Anderson and introduced her to those gathered. Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO of The Worldwide Ireland Funds also welcomed Ambassador Anderson and noted her past support and friendship to the Funds through her involvement with The Ireland Fund of Monaco and The Ireland Fund of France.
A number of Ambassadors were in attendance, including: Sir Peter Westmacott, British Ambassador to the United States, and Lady Susan Westmacott; Ambassador Francois Delattre, Ambassador of France to the U.S.; Ambassador Dr. Hans Peter Mans, Ambassador of Austria; and, The Most Reverend Carlo Maria Vigano, Ambassador of The Vatican. Also attending were the Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives, Hon. John D. Dingell (D-MI), with Mrs. Debbie Dingell.
Ambassador Anderson, who will formally present her credentials to President Obama early next week, expressed her feelings of enormous pride to be the first woman Ambassador of Ireland to the U.S. She noted that she feels particularly privileged that she will be Ireland’s Ambassador to the U.S. for the 2016 celebration of the 100th anniversary of 1916, and hopes that 2016 will be, “…a year of proclaiming Ireland in a way that will be true to our history and we are today and the road we have traveled.”
Ambassador Anderson added that it can never be said too loudly or too often of the “extraordinary job” of The American Ireland Fund, and that she looks forward to four great years for Ireland and the Irish-American relationship.
