On Wednesday, September 23rd, the Irish Network Bay Area was delighted to bring our “Making It In America” series to the Consulate General of Ireland in San Francisco for an intimate conversation with Marianne Bolger, newly appointed Consul General in the Western United States, moderated by Irish Network Bay Area board member John Normoyle.
Our conversation explored what it means for Ireland to build influence — and how that influence continues to evolve across the diaspora, business, diplomacy, and the wider relationship between Ireland and the United States.
Marianne shared her perspective on:
- Ireland’s values and influence — how Ireland’s identity and values shape its voice on the global stage.
- The Irish diaspora — how the Irish story has evolved, Ireland’s newly launched Diaspora Strategy 2026–2030, and how the relationship between Ireland and its global community is changing.
- The role of the Consulate — connecting Ireland with its diaspora, businesses, communities, and partners across the Western United States.
- The business of influence — Ireland’s role within the EU, the strength of the Ireland–US economic relationship, and the particular importance of the connections between Ireland and California.
It was a fascinating opportunity to get to know Marianne, hear her perspective on Ireland’s evolving role in the world, and reflect on the many ways the Irish community in California contributes to that story.
A sincere thank you to Marianne Bolger and the Consulate General of Ireland for hosting us, and to John Normoyle for moderating such an engaging and thoughtful conversation. We also thank everyone who joined us and contributed to the discussion.
We wish Marianne every success in her new role and look forward to seeing all that she will contribute to the Irish community and to Ireland’s relationships across the Western United States.
