CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE: Belfast to open its doors and hearts to Irish America
There is no better time than now to invite our global family home to enjoy the fruits of the peace they helped create in Belfast – and nowhere better to showcase the progress made in the 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement than the Belfast International Homecoming.
The Homecoming will take place on 28-29 September 2023 with the goal of encouraging our diaspora — especially in Irish America — to invest its time, treasure and talent in Belfast. Our theme this year is ‘Unstoppable Belfast’ and we will feature a range of business-orientated events promoting Belfast over the two days.
Such an honour to be asked to write the invocation for the Belfast Homecoming banquet at the City Hall this evening. I was humbled to read it to all the amazing leaders who work hard to make Belfast the amazing City it is. 💚 #GoodNewsMovement #GreenBelfast pic.twitter.com/gWgg4YcBpl
— Rev Karen Sethuraman (@KarenSethuraman) November 4, 2021
Special guests being honoured at our gala dinner on Thursday 28 September in the Titanic Hotel will include:
E. Neville Isdell, Former Interim President World Wildlife Fund, Founder of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (Barbados, USA and South Africa)
Betty Yee, Outgoing Controller of California, Gubernatorial Candidate for California 2026 and advisor on green investments to the California pension system (USA)
Kamal Al-Solaylee, Author ‘Brown’, ‘Return: Why We Go Back To Where We Come From’ (Canada)
The royal couple also visited EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, where they explored Ireland’s vibrant diaspora through state-of-the-art interactive features with Neville Isdell, Founder and Chairman of EPIC, and Jessica Traynor, Deputy Museum Director. #RoyalVisitIreland pic.twitter.com/bdBaXFTebP
— Discover Ireland (@GoToIreland) July 11, 2018
Homecoming partners include Deloitte, Invest Northern Ireland and Belfast Harbour while among the Honorary Chairs are Aislinn McBride, CTO Kainos Digital Services, Kerrie Sweeney, CEO Belfast Maritime Trust, Mike Nesbitt MLA, Colin Anderson, CEO ASG, Cllr Cliodhna Nic Bhránair of Áras Uí Chonghaile, Michele Bryans CEO at Eastside Partnership and Michelle Hatfield, Chief People & Marketing Officer Belfast City Airport.
Delighted to catch up with great friends of Ireland Rabbi Steven Jacobs & Comptroller Betty Yee. They joined me virtually in Donegal from San Fran. Betty closes out 8-year tenure as Comptroller of gr8 state of Cal shortly but has bold plans for political future. @BettyYeeforCA 🙌 pic.twitter.com/tURkf8OBTN
— Máirtín Ó Muilleoir (@newbelfast) November 3, 2022
Expect a 40-strong delegation from the New York State Legislature (to include our firm friends from the NY State Legislature Amy Paulin and Mike Fitzpatrick) while our special events will include a gala evening at the Titanic Hotel and a leaders forum focusing on a diverse, equitable and future-focused Belfast.
Invite your own ambassadors home to join the fun – there is no better time than now to enjoy this Unstoppable Belfast!
Anyone interested in attending the Homecoming can email Connla McCann direct. The emerging agenda and further details can be found online.
