The leading US Diplomat in Ireland for the past three and a half years has been a man for whom sport is a passion, a way of life and a bond to strengthen ties between our two countries.
John Hennessey-Niland has never hidden his love of games, and sporting personalities and administrators were on hand last night at the US Ambassadors Residence in the Phoenix Park to bid him farewell and thanks as he steps back on the State Department carousel.
His presentation from the embassy staff was an Irish international soccer jersey, signed by the players and delivered last night by the team that runs to football in the community programmes that Hennessey-Niland had no small part in bringing to the attention of the corporate world as a venture worth supporting.
One of his final acts of kindness to sport was helping give confidence to the FAI in the community story that was being told, and which enabled a new programme sponsor to come on board this week in the shape of Heatons and Sportsworld.
He delivered an memorable personal presentation on the value of the programmes to business leaders earlier in the summer which highlighted his personal involvement in the sport as a coach, fan and advocate.
He played no small part in helping to bring last year’s Notre Dame and Navy dream to life, together with its huge benefit for Irish tourism and international reputation. Fergal Naughton of Glen Dimplex, the commercial partner behind the game was there last night as well.
In his parting speech to those 100 or so friends from business, sport, politics and the arts, he spoke in glowing terms about the GAA and his hopes for the county of his forbearers Mayo to land the All Ireland Football Championship later this month.
He also addressed the fact that the emotional, historic and business ties that so inextricably link Ireland and the United States are strengthened through a mutual love of sport in its many hues and colours.
Hennessey-Niland was a great supporter of Sport for Business. He was the main guest speaker at ‘Making Sport work for Business’, our business breakfast with Sigmar Recruitment in Dublin in the spring where he addressed a group of business leaders on the value of sport within their organisations.
He is a lover of sport and has been a great friend to Ireland. We wish him well on his travels. after spells in Dublin, Paris and as a representative to FIFA they will now take him to Islamabad where a warning against non essential travel is in place at present.
It will be a challenging environment but one he will tackle with relish and no doubt there will be a football pitch to be found so that he can keep talking in the language of sport.
His successor is Stuart Dwyer, a man whose height would have made him a potentially strong midfielder in Gaelic Football, and who is looking forward to learning more about his own Irish heritage. Hopefully the Stanford graduate will unearth a passion for hurling or some other sport amid the lineage.
For now though we bid farewell and thanks to John Hennessey-Niland. God speed and good luck.
Sports Tourism Seminar at Croke Park (September 19th)
Sport for Business 20/20 at Ulster Bank HQ (October 8th)
The Business of Youth Sport Seminar (November 28th)
