Gabriel Byrne, Actor and cultural ambassador
It’s easy to be cynical about an event like this, but if you look at what came out of the Farmleigh forum in 2009, it shows what can be achieved. What has been achieved in terms of promoting Ireland in the US this year is astonishing. It’s important to come together and ask questions in order to produce results that might not be immediately apparent but will make a difference in the future.
It’s about the process. Arts and culture are not the answer to our economic problems, but we need to ask the right questions about how we can use this enormous resource to our advantage.
Loretta Brennan Glucksman
Chair of the American Ireland Fund
I hope the forum achieves a synergy out of so many and disparate ideas.
After the Farmleigh forum in 2009, many wondered: ‘What next?’ but I think there were some very positive follow-ups. There are lots of possibilities, given the goodwill that exists. If you look at the variety of participants and discussions here today, you can see that there are so many threads which I am certain that, given time, we will be able to weave into something wonderful.
Niall Gibbons
Chief executive, Tourism Ireland
There has been a great sense of anticipation and energy at the forum today. Everyone here is here because they want to help. It's not just a talking shop. It's about sharing ideas and harnessing all the views and energy in the room to produce something important. We need to leverage that positivity and that sense of possibility.
Danuta Gray
Former CEO Telefonica O2 Ireland
This is about connecting people who can then go on to connect with others to do something good for Ireland. I’ve been impressed by the discussions with younger participants today.
I think if Ireland can achieve and retain a connection with young Irish people abroad, and people who have studied here and then return to their home countries, then this can open up so many opportunities.
I think people will leave this forum talking about the buzz of positivity here and the desire to develop it further.