At the invitation of the County Louth Society in New York, officials and elected members from Louth County Council travelled to the Big Apple to take part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day festivities.

The delegation was made up of Louth County Council Chief Executive, David Conway, Director of Strategic Economic Development, Thomas McEvoy, Louth County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Kevin Callan, Cathaoirleach of Ardee MD, Cllr John Sheridan, Cathaoirleach of Dundalk MD, Cllr Sean Kelly and Deputy Mayor of the Borough District of Drogheda, Cllr Pio Smith.

Throughout their visit, they engaged with members of the diaspora and state agencies and business representatives working in the USA before proudly participating in the renowned St Patrick’s Day Parade.

The visit began on Friday morning with a warm welcome at the Consulate General of Ireland. This was followed by key meetings with state agencies, including Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA.

During these engagements, the delegation promoted Louth as a vibrant and strategically located county along the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor, presenting ‘Visit Louth’ gift packs to highlight the county’s tourism and investment opportunities.

Speaking about the visit, Louth County Council Chief Executive, David Conway, said: "The strong ties between Louth and the Irish community in New York have been nurtured over many decades, and this visit is a continuation of that long-standing tradition. It was a privilege to engage with key stakeholders who share a deep connection with Ireland and to strengthen relationships that benefit both our county and our diaspora abroad. The opportunities for collaboration are immense, and we look forward to building on the connections that were made during this visit."

St Patrick’s Day itself started with Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, where the group caught up with Knockbridge native Tommy Smyth and his wife, Treasa. Tommy, a renowned ESPN football commentator and President of the New York St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, also delivered one of the readings at the service!

The visit culminated in the iconic St Patrick’s Day Parade, which was watched by over 2.5 million people. Before stepping onto Fifth Avenue, the delegation met with New York City Mayor, Eric Adams and Grand Marshal, Michael Benn.

They then proudly marched alongside members of the County Louth Society of New York - an organization established in 1906 that continues to maintain strong ties with the county.

Louth County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Kevin Callan, emphasised the significance of the visit, stating: "It is always an honour to represent County Louth on the global stage, and nowhere is the Irish spirit more alive than in New York on St Patrick’s Day. The Irish diaspora, and in particular the County Louth Society of New York, has played a key role in strengthening the deep-rooted friendship between Ireland and the United States, and this visit reaffirmed the strong cultural and economic links between our two nations. We are grateful for the warm welcome we received and look forward to continuing this tradition, which brings enormous benefits to our county and its people."

This visit further strengthened the bonds between County Louth and the Irish diaspora in New York, reinforcing opportunities for cultural and economic collaboration in the years ahead.