US ambassador to Ireland Kevin O’Malley makes his mark after short tenure

It was more of a sprint than a marathon for Kevin O’Malley, appointed US ambassador to Ireland in 2014. But he achieved much in those two years, writes Dan Buckley

Most US ambassadors to Ireland enjoy two presidential terms totalling eight years. Kevin O’Malley, who arrived here in 2014 and vacates the post next week, had little more than two years but has achieved more than most of his predecessors in that short period.

He has visited every county in Ireland, engaging with the peace process in Northern Ireland and getting to know the country where his grandparents were born.