|
Frank Groome took up his post as Consul General of Ireland to the US Southeast in August 2024. Based in Atlanta, Frank leads Ireland's team covering Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Frank served as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Irish Embassy in The Hague between 2020 and 2024. Prior to his posting in the Netherlands, he was Deputy Director for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.
Consul General Groome has worked in various posts in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and at the United Nations in New York. Prior to joining the Department of Foreign Affairs, Frank worked in the energy sector for several years.
Frank holds a Master's degree in law from King’s College London and Ph.D in diplomatic history from University College Dublin.
He is married with two children.
Ireland-Georgia Bilateral Economic Relations
With $5.5 billion in total trade in 2023, Ireland ranks as Georgia’s 11th-largest international trade partner. Since 2010, Irish companies have invested more than $272 million in the state and announced more than 3,200 jobs.
The state estimates there are 130 Irish-owned facilities in Georgia, employing roughly 10,400 Georgians. Those companies include consulting giant Accenture, which acquired Peachtree Corners-based Insight Sourcing in 2024 and operates a technology hub in Midtown. Kerry Foods, meanwhile, operates a $137 million manufacturing plant in Rome.
Companies from Ireland and Georgia also participated in one of 2024′s largest mergers. Sandy Springs-based WestRock and Dublin-based Smurfit Kappa formed a new paper and packaging giant called Smurfit Westrock in July, a merger valued at about $20 billion.
Ireland-U.S. Economic Relations
Subsidiaries of US multinational businesses and corperations have located in Ireland due to low taxation and an educated English-speaking population. Ireland has been ranked the world's most profitable country for US corporations.
The United States is Ireland's largest export partner and second-largest import partner (after the United Kingdom), accounting for 23.2% of exports and 14.1% of imports in 2010. It is also Ireland's largest trading partner outside of the European Union. The range of U.S. products imported to Ireland includes electrical components, computers and peripherals, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, and livestock feed. Exports to the United States include alcoholic beverages, chemicals and related products, electronic data processing equipment, electrical machinery, textiles and clothing, and glassware.
Currently, there are more than 600 U.S. subsidiaries operating in Ireland, employing in excess of 100,000 people and spanning activities from manufacturing of high-tech electronics, computer products, medical supplies, and pharmaceuticals to retailing, banking and finance, and other services. Many U.S. businesses find Ireland an attractive location to manufacture for the EU market, since as a member of the EU it has tariff free access to the European Common Market. Government policies are generally formulated to facilitate trade and inward direct investment.
The availability of an educated, well-trained, English-speaking work force and relatively moderate wage costs have been important factors. Ireland offers good long-term growth prospects for U.S. companies under an innovative financial incentive program, including capital grants and favorable tax treatment, such as a low corporation income tax rate for manufacturing firms and certain financial services firms.
Significant Irish Heritage in the United States
Irish immigration to the USA has played a large role in the culture of the United States. About 33.3 million Americans—10.5% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2013 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Irish Americans have made many contributions to American culture and sport.
A number of the presidents of the United States have Irish origins. The extent of Irish heritage varies. Ronald Reagan's father was of Irish ancestry, while his mother also had some Irish ancestors. John F. Kennedy had Irish lineage on both sides. Joe Biden was also an Irish-American on both his parents sides.
|
