“Creative Minds” Minister Humphreys at US Ambassador’s Residence – 29 January 2015
Good evening ladies and gentlemen.
I would like to thank Ambassador O’Malley for his kind invitation to this evening’s event – the first in the “Creative Minds” cultural series.
Culturally and creatively, Ireland and the US have always been close.
The United States of America and Ireland have a warm and close relationship that stretches back over the centuries.
Emigration from Ireland was and is an integral part of that relationship.
The nineteenth century saw several waves of Irish arrive in the United States, particularly after the Great Famine.
I understand that Ambassador O’Malley has Irish ancestry on both sides of his family, so he is personally aware of the opportunities that the US provided for emigrants to make new lives for themselves, while at the same time not forgetting about the land of their ancestors.
Today, Ireland’s relationship with the US is built on close economic and trade ties, which contribute in very significant ways to the prosperity of this island.
It also draws on those powerful historical, social, cultural and political connections which have anchored a distinct affinity between our two peoples.
As a nation we remain very conscious of the enormous debt of gratitude we owe to the U.S., to the welcome and the opportunities your country has offered to those who have left Ireland’s shores over the years, and who have responded with their own creativity and contributions.
Irish-Americans have made their mark in every facet of American society: in politics, in the public service, in business, in academia, in sports, in the media and in the creative arts.
The list of Irish Americans who have achieved great success in the creative arts would include for example John Ford for his filmmaking, Eugene O’Neill for his plays, Cormac McCarthy for his literature, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Sean Penn for their acting.
I could go on and on with this list, but I don’t wish to keep you all evening.
With this strong Irish-America legacy in mind, I warmly welcome Ambassador O’Malley’s “Creative Minds” cultural series.
The series is a fantastic idea, and as Minister for the Arts, I am particularly enthusiastic about your goal to encourage more creative economic linkages between young people in the United States and Ireland.
Through the participation of leading American artists, writers, film makers and digital innovators, Ambassador O’Malley will help us connect creatively and, no doubt, learn from each other.
I know many of you here tonight are associated with the film industry – a sector about which I am very passionate.
It is a great example of how Irish and American creative minds can work together with superb results.
The Irish film industry is in an extremely strong position, with record activity levels in 2014.
A number of major US productions have chosen to come here in recent years, thanks to a combination of local talent, strong tax incentives and quality studio space – not to mention our incredible scenery – which make Ireland such a great film location.
The Government is determined to build on this success – just this month enhanced tax incentives have come into effect which I hope will significantly boost the indigenous sector and help to attract further international productions to Ireland.
I would like to warmly welcome David Chase who will be the first speaker in the “Creative Minds” series.
David is, of course, best known as the creator of the hugely successful TV series “The Sopranos”.
While the Sopranos may have been about an Italian American family, it proved massively popular with Irish audiences, and I am sure that David will entertain and enlighten us with his experiences from over 40 years in television as a producer and writer.
Finally, I want to wish Ambassador O’Malley good luck and best wishes, both in his stay in Ireland as Ambassador, and also with his “Creative Minds” series.
ENDS.
