Video Interviews from Dublin, Ireland Terence Brannigan, CEO of Resource Group Brian Garvan, CEO of Atlantic Corridor Ireland Brendan McGinn, accounting firm founder and entrepreneur Ronan King, president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce 1 2 3 4 5 James Gaffey, president of the Gaffey Group note: GlobalAtlanta traveled to Dublin earlier this year and interviewed a dozen key businesspeople on their Georgia connections Richard Spring, executive director of International Development Ireland 1  2  3 4 5 6 Click on the links above to see the video interviews. Windows Media files require Windows Media Player or equivalent QuickTime video files require QuickTime 7.0 or higher

Gov. Sonny Perdue and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle will start their European economic development mission in Ireland and Northern Ireland this week where business and cultural ties are already firmly established with Georgia.

Ireland’s president, Mary McAleese, was in Atlanta in April underlining these ties through visits at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology as well as meeting with local business and government officials.

Noting that United Parcel Service Inc., Equifax Corp. and Coca-Cola Co. have “European-focused operations” in Ireland, she went further during a luncheon address at the Rotary Club of Atlanta to underscore the well-established personal ties:

“As I’m sure you all know, Coca-Cola’s CEO Neville Isdell and Irial Finan, one of the company’s executive vice presidents, were both born on the island of Ireland, and Don Keough, the legendary former president of the company recently reconnected with his ancestral roots and became an Irish citizen, so you’ll excuse me for expressing a particular sense of pride in their achievements,” she interjected.

The governor’s office is calling the visit to Northern Ireland “historic” because Mr. Perdue will apparently be the first senior political official from the United States to visit Belfast, its capital, since the restoration of the devolved government on May 8.

They also will be in Ireland days after the formation of a new government including the Green Party’s first inclusion into the ruling party coalition.

For James Gaffey, an international business consultant who is participating in the mission, this official visit marks the realization of his efforts since 2004 when he arranged for chambers of commerce from both Ireland and Northern Ireland to visit Georgia.

“Ireland has quickly moved up to become Georgia’s 6th trading partner,” he told GlobalAtlanta before departing for Dublin, Ireland’s capital.

For this special report on Ireland, GlobalAtlanta interviewed in Dublin, Richard “Dick” Spring, a businessman and former senior Irish politician who currently serves as executive director of International Development Ireland, which provides management, consulting and training services.

Mr. Spring was a leader in Ireland’s Labour Party from 1982-97 and served as deputy prime minister among other important posts. He describes in the accompanying video interview the causes for Ireland’s spectacular growth with an average growth of its gross domestic product of more than 6 percent for 20 years.

Ronan King, president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, explains the role that U.S. investment has played in Ireland’s economic success and the challenges that the country faces today.

He also explains the role of the Dublin chamber in providing its members with a global perspective for expanding their activities around the world.

Northern Irish businessmen Terence H. Brannigan, CEO of Resource, a human resources firm that is Northern Ireland’s second largest employer, and Brendan McGinn, founder of his accounting firm and entrepreneur, provide insights into the growing interdependence of their province with their neighbor to the south.

Brian Garvan, CEO of Atlantic Corridor Ireland, provides his perspective on the Georgia Institute of Technology’s new applied research institute that is to be located in the area.

And Mr. Gaffey explains the origins of his interest in Ireland and promoting ties with Atlanta.

[GlobalAtlanta thanks Mr. Gaffey for arranging the interviews.]