IN a surprise move, the American Irish business conference planned for Philadelphia in October has been switched to Pittsburgh. It will be a follow up to the Washington conference last year during the IRA ceasefire which attracted many politicians and entrepreneurs.
The switch was revealed by the US Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Mr William Ginsberg, in a visit to Pittsburgh last week when he met business and political leaders. He told them the change was partly due to an Irish nun, Sister Michele O'Leary who runs the Ireland Institute in Philadelphia.
Mr Ginsberg met her in Newry when he visited there last month on a US investment mission. She convinced him there would be more support and resources for the conference in Pittsburgh. There had been reportedly a problem of hotel accommodation in Philadelphia and in attracting local support.
Irish American groups in Pittsburgh have also pledged support, as has the Heinz group, headed by Dr Tony O'Reilly and based in the city, and the influential Irish American Rooney family.
The Irish American mayor, Mr Tom Murphy, is a close political ally of President Clinton, an enthusiastic promoter of the Washington conference.
Mr Ginsberg said the current disturbances in Northern Ireland "clearly do not help" but "it kind of illustrates the need President Clinton outlined a year and a half ago" to press ahead with the economic development of Northern Ireland.