Bill, Bono and Byrne lead fundraiser

IRELAND’S newly appointed cultural ambassador, actor Gabriel Byrne, joined U2’s Bono and former US president Bill Clinton in New York on Thursday night for the American Ireland Fund 35th Anniversary Gala.

Byrne was appointed as our first cultural ambassador by the Government on St Patrick’s Day. The concept grew in part from recommendations by the Global Irish Economic Forum at Farmleigh last autumn, and is rooted in the connection between culture and the economy.

Thursday’s gala event was attended by 1,300 members of the Irish-American business, political and arts communities. The funds raised surpassed the American Ireland Fund’s target of $2.5 million (€1.967m) – raising more than $3m (€2.36m).