March 10, 2005

Dublin delegation in San Jose for ‘Irish Week’

Annual celebration of San Jose/Dublin sister city relationship highlighted
by visit of lord mayor of Dublin to Silicon Valley

The annual Irish Week returns to San Jose with Wednesday’s arrival of a delegation from Dublin to help celebrate the San Jose-Dublin Sister City program.

“We will give a warm San Jose welcome to our Irish visitors as we celebrate our annual Irish Week,” said Mayor Ron Gonzales. “San Jose and Dublin enjoy extensive cultural and business ties, and I’m looking forward to exploring new opportunities based on the goodwill that has grown from our long-standing relationship.”

Although Gonzales will be in Washington, D.C. for most of the week, he will return to join the annual Irish Week dinner on Friday.

The delegation arriving from Ireland includes Dublin Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan and his wife Marian Conaghan; Dublin city councilors Larry O’Toole and Anne Marie Martin; Kevin Dowling, Dublin City Manager’s Office; and Terence Martin.

“Our sister city relationship with Dublin has helped foster warm friendships and contributed to stronger economic ties,” according to Gabe McMahon, president of the San Jose-Dublin Sister City Committee.

At the annual Irish Week Dinner on Friday, March 11, a special community award will be presented to Cay Rafferty who has helped build and support several local Irish community organizations. This is the first year that the San Jose-Dublin Sister City Committee will recognize a local resident with this newly created award for community service in support of the relationship with Ireland.

Other activities planned for the Dublin delegation during Irish Week include briefings on economic development opportunities and tours of San Jose and Silicon Valley.

For general information about the San Jose-Dublin Sister City program or Irish Week, call (408) 371-8160. Other public events for Irish Week include the San Jose-Dublin Sister City Committee Welcome Breakfast, which will be held Thursday, March 10 at 8 a.m. at the Capital Club at 50 W. San Fernando Street, 17th Floor in downtown San Jose.

Call (408) 615-7309 for more information. Tickets are $27.50

There will also be a sister city flag raising ceremony on Friday, March 11 at 10 a.m. in front of San Jose City Hall, 801 North First St. Councilmember Linda LeZotte, representing Mayor Ron Gonzales and Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan, will raise the flags of the United States and Ireland to mark San Jose Irish Week festivities. Students from St. John Vianney School in San Jose will sing the national anthems of both countries, and the presentation of colors will be done by the San Jose Fire Department Color Guard.

The 17th Annual Irish Week Dinner will be held Friday evening to honor Special Community Award Recipient Cay Rafferty at the San Jose Marriott Hotel, 301 South Market St., in downtown San Jose. For information or reservations, call (408) 279-6738. Tickets are $100.