U.S. Ambassador to Ireland speaks to La Salle community

By Tracey Widgins-Lewis
Collegian Editor
March 22, 2006

La Salle students, faculty, staff and alumni received a special lesson in European economics when U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, James C. Kenny, spoke at the University on March 13. Kenny’s appearance was a part of his first official visit to Philadelphia. He also presented the Irish American Business Chamber and Network’s Ambassador’s Award during their annual Saint Patrick’s Dinner.

U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, James C. Kenny, took some
time out to speak to the La Salle community during his first official visit to
Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of University Communications.

“I’ve got the best job in the federal government,” Kenny said.

Many members of the audience spent their fall semester studying in Ireland. They learned about the “dynamic” economic changes Ireland has undergone including a 100 percent population increase since 1960, a higher cost of living and an increase in cellular phone usage. Kenny said that Ireland has “one of the highest concentrations in the world” of mobile phones.

“[My daughter] was the only person in her school without a mobile phone,” he joked.

He said that Ireland has adopted an entrepreneurial state of mind, with American companies such as Dell and Bausch and Lomb placing sites in Ireland that are run by Irish citizens.

Kenny was sworn in as Ambassador to Ireland by President George W. Bush on Oct. 15, 2003. He presented his credentials to the President of Ireland Mary McAleese in Dublin on Oct. 31, 2003.

He received a Flax Trust Award in 2004 for his community service efforts, and was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the American College of Dublin in 2005. Kenny received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bradley University.

widgint1@lasalle.edu