Cork County Council Government, Trade, Tourism and Education Delegation 2025

Introduction and Itinerary

Delegations from Cork County will visit New York, Chicago and Detroit as part of the 2025 St Patrick’s Day engagement. The high-level delegations offer a unique opportunity to promote Cork County from an economic, tourism and third level educational perspective and build upon the existing agreements with Cook County and the City of Detroit.  

This year, the delegations will be joined by representatives from University College Cork and Munster Technological University, highlighting and progressing the strong education, research and future skills needs links that have developed between Cork and the United States.  There will be a focus on promoting Cork County as an attractive tourist destination as well as meeting with the IDA and businesses, with representatives from the Irish Hotels Federation, Cork Chamber of Commerce and Cork Business Association also travelling to Chicago. 

Mayor of the County of Cork, Councillor Joe Carroll will lead delegations to New York and Chicago, attending the Cork BP & P Association of New York’s 140th Annual St Patrick’s dinner before departing for Chicago. Mayor Carroll will also be in New York on March 16th to participate in the New York Parade, address the Cork Association Dinner and to attend formal engagements such as meetings with the IDA, the Consul General and Tourism Ireland. 

The Chicago delegation includes the President of University College Cork, Professor John O’Halloran; the Head of School of Business, Munster Technological University, Mary Rose Stafford; and representatives of the Irish Hotels Federation Cork Branch including President Michael Magner. Established in 1999, this year marks the 26th anniversary of the Cork County Cook County Sistership agreement. The partnership has served to foster international trade and develop and strengthen relations between companies, institutions, organisations, and individual entrepreneurs.

In Detroit, a plaque will be unveiled at Michigan Central train station, located in the aptly named Corktown, honouring the Irish people who travelled to Detroit. 

Chicago Itinerary

• Wednesday, March 12th
  11.30AM Depart Ireland
  6.00PM (local time) Welcome Reception
• Thursday, March 13th
  9.00AM Cook County Board Meeting
  10.00AM Meeting with Consul General Mr Brian Cahalane
  12.00PM Cook County - Cork County Joint Partnership Meeting
  13.30PM Working Holiday Authorisation Meeting
  7.00PM Mayoral Reception Cork County - Cook County
• Friday, March 14th
  7.45M Irish American Partnership Breakfast
  11.00AM Meeting with Mercy Home 
  1.00PM Lunch meeting hosted by Visit Cork and the Irish Hotels Federation Cork Branch
  5.30PM Plumbers Union Reception
  7.30PM Irish Fellowship Dinner
• Saturday, March 15th
  9.00AM Mass, Old St. Patrick’s Church
  10.00AM River Chicago Dyeing
  12.15PM Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade
• Sunday, March 16th
  12.00PM Mass - Theatre on the Lake and Community Event
  5.00PM Depart

New York Itinerary

• Friday, March 7th
  2.00PM Depart Ireland
• Saturday, March 8th 
  6:30PM The Cork BP & P Association of New York’s 140th Annual St Patrick’s Dinner
• Monday, March 10th 
  12.30PM Business Meeting with Cork BP & P Association
  4.00PM Mayor to Depart New York for Chicago
• Monday, March 17th 
  8.30AM St Patrick’s Day Mass
  11.00AM New York Parade
  6.00PM Cork Association Dinner
• Tuesday, March 18th 
  11.00AM Meeting with Consul General 
  12.30PM Meeting with IDA
  14.30PM Meeting with Tourism Ireland
• Wednesday, March 19th
  3.00PM Depart

Detroit Itinerary

• Thursday, March 13th
  6.00AM Depart Ireland
  7.00PM Meeting with United Irish Societies
• Friday, March 14th 
  11.30AM Event at Irish Plaza to begin St Patrick’s weekend and Live TV interviews
  12.30PM Lunch with Gaelic League/Irish American Club, Corktown, Detroit
  3.00PM Central Train Station tour and presentation of plaque
  6.30PM Meeting with Director of Tourism, Visit Detroit
• Saturday, March 15th
  6.00PM Meeting with Kitch Attorneys & Counselors 
  8.00PM Meeting with Gaelic League/Irish American Club
• Sunday, March 16th
  7.00AM Live TV Interviews
  10.15AM Mass Holy Trinity Church 
  11.30PM Meeting with Most Holy Trinity School
  12.00PM Meet and greet with Elected Officials, Attorneys, Sponsors of Parade
  1.00PM St. Patrick’s Day Parade
• Monday, March 17th 
  11.00AM Private meet and greet at Most Holy Trinity Church
  3.00PM Depart

Delegate List and Costs

Delegates Chicago

• Mayor of the County of Cork, Councillor Joe Carroll 
• Moira Murrell, Chief Executive, Cork County Council
• Kevin Morey, Divisional Manager, Cork County Council
• Nicola Radley, Director of Services, Cork County Council
• Karina Cremin, Senior Executive Officer, Cork County Council
• Councillor Deirdre O’Brien
• Councillor Michael Hegarty
• Councillor Deirdre Kelly

Delegates New York 

• Mayor of the County of Cork, Councillor Joe Carroll
• Councillor Frank O’Flynn (March 16th to 19th) 
• Orla Deasy, Cork County Council (March 7th to 11th)
• Michael Lynch, Divisional Manager, Cork County Council (March 16th to 19th)
• Karina Cremin, Senior Executive Officer, Cork County Council (March 16th to 19th)

Delegates Detroit 

• Councillor Mary Linehan Foley
• Councillor Audrey Buckley
• Niall Healy, Divisional Manager, Cork County Council 
• Mags Donovan, Senior Staff Officer, Cork County Council

Costs

• Flights - €17,189.40
• Hotels - €19,216.28