It was quite a sight as an American Government jet touched down at Kerry Airport as the county welcomed a 10-strong delegation, led by US House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Richard E Neal, who is spearheading a bipartisan delegation to Ireland and the UK to reaffirm the US congressional commitment to maintaining important relationships.
Pictures: Domnick Walsh
Members of the party later boarded a helicopter to be transported to the Blasket Centre in Dunquin where they were greeted by local schoolchildren playing traditional Irish music and they met with crafts people in West Kerry to learn about their work and traditions.
The visiting party was welcomed to the county by Education Minister and Kerry TD, Norma Foley, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann Mark Daly, Kerry County Council Director of Services John Breen and Kerry Airport Chief Executive Officer John Mulhern.
Congressman Neal, who is one of President Joe Biden’s closest allies and co-chair of the Friends of Ireland Caucus, said the visit will, in part, underscore the significance of the Good Friday Agreement.
“The United States has special, enduring bonds with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Ireland,” he said.
“Our bipartisan delegation will reaffirm our congressional commitment to these important relationships”.
Congressman Neal has been vocal about Irish matters throughout his political career and he has warned against the threat posed to the Good Friday Agreement.
Worcester, Massachusetts born Congressman Neal was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1988 and served his first two terms on the House Banking Committee before joining the Ways and Means Committee in 1993.
He is a long-time guest lecturer at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and a National Trustee of John F Kennedy Library in Boston. He was Mayor of the City of Springfield from 1984 to 1988.
The visit,which commenced at the weekend, will conclude this Wednesday when Congressman Neal and his party return to the US.
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