Irish Examiner view: New York governor Kathy Hochul heralds new era

The real importance of Hochul’s appointment is the international signal sent out, loud and clear, by her predecessor Andrew Cuom's resignation

Kathy Hochul: 'Looking back, I realised they had a profound impact on my decision to enter public service.' Picture: Michael M Santiago/Getty Images

Even if she didn’t have Irish roots, Kathy Hochul’s appointment as governor of New York is noteworthy — she is the first woman to hold the post.

She is also the first Irish-American to become governor, a distinction that rightly raises a cheer on this side of the Atlantic. It is heartening to hear her refer to her paternal grandparents who left Kerry a century ago and rose from hardship to “ultimately live the American dream”.