Sport and Business are a natural fit and the powerful proof of that will be felt across Dublin next week as captains of industry from Boston and Atlanta gather in Dublin for the Aer Lingus sponsored College Football Classic.
The game at the Aviva Stadium will be the centrepiece of their itineraries but it is in the meetings and conversations around the edges that relationships can be developed to create a longer lasting benefit for Ireland.
That is a principal reason why the Naughton family have invested so much energy and effort in bringing such high profile games to Ireland and the Boston College CEO’s club will be hosting their first major meeting outside the Boston area in the run up to the game.
US Ambassador Kevin O’Malley will be hosting a reception for the teams and visiting dignitaries at his redsidence in the Phoenix Park.
There will be another sporting element to the programme with the Gateway Cup golf tournament between Ireland and the US taking place at Woodbrook Golf Club on Thursday, September 1st.
The event has been created by the group of companies behind the Ireland – Gateway to Europe initiative, inlcuding Sigmar Recruitment , Shannon Commercial Properties, Evros, FKM, Eisner Amper and Sport for Business.
It will bring together 80 sporting and business leaders for a day of golf, dinner and networking.
The Irish team will be captained by George Hook and All Ireland Winner Alan Kerins while the US will be led by the Director of the Ireland Institute at Boston College, Robert Mauro.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor will also be at the event alongside GPA CEO Dessie Farrell, Irish Consul General in Boston Fionnuala Quinlan, the Mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed and Golf Business leader Roddy Carr.
“This is an opportunity to get together in a relaxed setting and create bonds of friendship that wil translate into business benefit for Ireland,” said Sigmar Recruitment CEO Adie McGennis.
“There will also be no little element of competition and we plan to make this an annual event with the tournament held in the US every second year as part of our annual Ireland – Gateway to Europe Mission.”
“We’ve had great support from across the business spectrum and we’ve made it easy for players by having Clubs to Hire provide everthing they need on the ground.”
“George Hook is a great supporter of Gateway and will be giving his all in a Darren Clarke style role as Captain of the Irish team.”
Sport for Business’ Coverage of the Business of Golf is in partnership with Carr Golf – Experts in the Business of Golf
