Cleveland is Open For Business! That was the message delivered at the launch of the Cleveland Chapter of the Irish Business Network in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall. 
Flag of Ireland in Cleveland City Hall
The mission of the Irish Network Cleveland is to provide an inclusive environment that facilitates effective coordination and collaboration, on a global stage, of Irish and Irish Americans from all vocations, with the goal of strengthening the economic, social and cultural ties between the U.S. and Ireland; and communicating and coordinating with other, non Irish Network, groups, including the Irish and U.S. Governments and government bodies, long standing industry and philanthropic bodies, and any other groups as may be appropriate to facilitate a unified advancement for all.Founder Jerry Hallissey invited people to be part of something new, something different. He said that "Our goal is to bring the Cleveland group to a whole new level of participation and success...We want Irish Network Cleveland to make all of the others stand up and take notice! Cleveland Irish is a force to be reckoned with."
A Color Guard marched into Cleveland City Hall Rotunda with the flags of the United States and Ireland. Jerry Hallissey introduced Mary Agnes Kennedy who sang the Irish national anthem followed by the American anthem. Thus began the inaugural gathering of the Cleveland Chapter of the Irish Network. 
Mary Agnes Kennedy
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson
Then Jerry Hallissey welcomed the crowd to the inaugural gathering of the Cleveland Chapter of the Irish Network. He told of the symbolism of meeting in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall because of the Rotunda in Dublin.
Jerry Hallissey
Jerry declared that Cleveland is open for business and then introduced Cleveland City Council President Martin Sweeney. Sweeney told of how his grandparents from Ireland somehow got together and stressed the family side of networking too.
Cleveland City Council President Martin Sweeney
Irish Vice Consul Nick Michael had his first official speaking engagement in the US (after his service in the Irish Embassy in Tanzania) at the inaugural gathering of the Cleveland Chapter of the Irish Network. Irish Vice Consul Nick Michael
Jerry Hallissey told how the network has already been established nationally. He introduced Steve Lenox, president of Irish Network in New Jersey and co-president of Irish Network USA, who told more about the mission.
Steve Lenox, president of Irish Network in New Jersey
and co-president of Irish Network USA
The New Jersey mission is 'Connecting Irish, Irish Americans and 'friends of Ireland' across New Jersey through business, arts, sport, and social activities.' And it is now spread to Cleveland and throughout the US.
Jerry Hallissey then introduced Imelda Gallagher, President of the Chicago Chapter of the Irish Network who spoke about opportunities to collaborate between Chicago and Cleveland and all the other chapters.
Imelda Gallagher, President of the Chicago Chapter of the Irish Network
For more details on the Irish network Cleveland email Irishnetworkcleveland@gmail.com. If you are a business, interested in business, interested in Ireland or interested in Cleveland - you need to be involved.
Enjoy these images from the event.
Jerry Hallissey, Mayor Frank Jackson,
Consul Nick Michael and Martin Sweeney
John Sweeney and Tom Maloney
John and Mary Eileen Myers and Rick Foran
Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough and Tom Deegan
Jimmy Kilbane, Tom Deegan and JC Sullivan
Jo Reppa and Jackie Kropp
Joe Casey and Francis McGarry
Jim O'Hare and Philomena and Bill O'Hare
Jerry Hallissey and Erin Ryan
Joe Lardie and Gerry Quinn
Vice Counsil Nick Michael, Tom Scanlon and Imelda Gallagher
John O'Brien Sr. and Jr.
Martin Sweeney and Ellen Kelley
Sheila Murphy-Crawford and Deidre Woodburn
Seanna, Maureen and Neil Conway
Sandy Coakley, Debbie and Chip Coakley
Mary and Alan Soirefman
Pat Coyne and Steve Lenox
Marilyn Madigan, Mary Agnes Kennedy, David McGloughlin,
Patricia Lavelle and Shannon Corcoran
Jose Feliciano Jr and Paul McAvinchey
Egan, Kathy and Brett Luengo
Jerry Hallissey and Greg Harris
Jonathan Petrea
Imelda Gallagher, Steve Lenox and Vice Consul Nick Michael
Jerry Hallissey, Martin Sweeney, Maureen Patterson,
Vice Consul Nick Michael, Deidre Woodburn and Steve Lenox
Congratulations to Jerry Hallissey and his team for a tremendous launch of the Irish Business Network in Cleveland.
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