Ambassador Anderson’s St. Patrick’s Day visit to Charlotte

Ambassador Anne Anderson’s visit to Charlotte, North Carolina, in March was full of St. Patrick’s Day festivities and opportunities to advance and recognize Irish business and investment in the Charlotte area.

At a breakfast with the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador Anderson delivered an address “Europe at a Time of Change and Challenge”.  Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts, herself a former US diplomat also spoke at the event.  The Chamber estimates that 21 Irish companies operate in the city, and that, among other local businesses, Charlotte-based Bank of America has several hundred employees in Ireland, an indication of a strong economic partnership.

Later in the morning, Ambassador Anderson served as the Grand Marshal of the Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day parade. Also at the wonderful parade was Honorary Consul John Young, Congressman Robert Pettinger, the Chair of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, Trevor Fuller, and Consul General of Atlanta Shane Stephens, as well as several local fire brigades, Irish dance academies, community Irish-American organizations and schools with Irish connections.

Following the parade, Ambassador Anderson met with Congressman Pittenger, Chairman Fuller and the Mayor Pro Tempore of Charlotte, Vi Lyles, to discuss economic growth and education, among other issues. Later that day, the Ambassador visited with several Irish-American groups to meet with many of the 120,000 people of Irish or Scots-Irish descent in the Charlotte area.

Ambassador Anderson and Consul General Stephens would like to thank the people of Charlotte for their hospitality and enthusiasm, and recognize their strong Irish pride.