Ciaran Cannon, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland
Appearing at the Hedge School
Current Events: The Importance of the Irish Diaspora
Saturday, August 17 @ 2:30pm
In addition to his talk, Minister Cannon will introduce the book Ireland's Green Larder by Margaret Hickey on Sunday, August 18 at 11:30am in the Hedge School.
He will also launch the book Renaissance Galway by Paul Walsh (published by the Royal Irish Academy) at 4:30pm on Sunday, August 18 in the Hedge School.
Ciaran Cannon is Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for the Diaspora and International Development. He is Teachta Dála (TD) representing Galway East. Minister Cannon is formerly the Minister for Training and Skills at the Department of Education & Skills. He was elected to the Irish Parliament Dáil Eireann in February 2011.
Minister Cannon was first elected to Galway County Council in June 2004, to represent the Loughrea Electoral Area. Following the 2007 General Election the Prime Minister An Taoiseach nominated him to Seanad Eireann.
Minister Cannon is an active member of the community in Carrabane. He has been the chairperson of the Carrabane Community Council and Scout Leader for the local Scout unit. He has a strong interest in rural planning and has been instrumental in ensuring many improvements. Minister Cannon was born in Kiltullagh, Athenry and he lives there with his wife Niamh and son Evan. Every two years Ciaran cycles 600 miles for the Irish Pilgrimage Trust, a national charity caring for children and young people with disabilities. He was chosen as one of Galway’s People of the Year in March 2002.
In April 2019, Minister Cannon was appointed as a UNICEF global champion for education as part of a new initiative to ensure that every young person aged between 10 and 24 will be in school, training or age-appropriate decent employment by 2030. He is one of seven Generation Unlimited Champions who will advocate worldwide for the development of the “Gen U” program.
Hedge School Talk
Current Events: The Importance of the Irish Diaspora
Ten percent of America’s population claims Irish ancestry. Minister Ciaran Cannon has spoken in the past of the continually strong emotional connection to Ireland experienced by those whose families emigrated from the island over the centuries. The distinct Irish identity that is expressed in a festival like Milwaukee Irish Fest is part of that pride in Irish heritage. In this session, he asks how Irish Americans and Ireland can remain connected and formally strengthen the significance of the Irish as “a global people.”