The North is Alive and Well

If the level of energy of Belfast’s Lord Mayor is any indication, the north of Ireland is on the right track and doing extremely well.  Not that it surprises anyone who has taken notice.  Hosting companies like AllState, Liberty Mutual, CVS, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, NY Stock Exchange, Intel, Concentrix, and Citi; Belfast and the North are hosts to major blue chip American companies.  Let’s not forget an incredibly successful City of Culture 2013 and 2013 All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for Derry – a city that has consequently been at the forefront of world wide press for all the right reasons.  Some other interesting facts about the northern part of the country:

• One of youngest cities in Europe, almost 1 in 5 under 15;
• Biggest film production in Europe last year with $700m in Belfast, Game of Thrones;
• Biggest investment at university level in Europe - currently University of Ulster at $400m to create new campus in inner city;
• Biggest stadium development in Europe taking place in Belfast now with new Gaelic $120m stadium, soccer $45m, and Rugby $30m.

Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir is no stranger to the city of Boston.  I have known and worked  with him since 2007 when the Irish Echo first launched the Golden Bridges Awards Ceremony, which has become an annual event honoring the likes of Senate President Therese Murray, Lt Governor Tim Murray, Sister Lena Deevy and many others. 
This visit, however, was of particular significance as he and our new Mayor Marty Walsh, who in just 3 months is making major positive changes for Boston, agreed in principle to a sister city arrangement that will most certainly prove mutually beneficial.  Improv Asylum, a TMG client, which has grown in both Boston – Laugh Boston was launched under a year ago - and Ireland - IA Innovations was launched in Dublin; has begun initial conversations with Ó Muilleoir and others for a possible expansion in Belfast.  

Boston has been just one of his many stops throughout the States and the world over for Ó Muilleoir over the past 10 months as he flies the flag for Belfast and the North.  We had the pleasure of catching up at a breakfast sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland, under the successful leadership of all stars Gary Hanley and John Logan. 
I will see the Lord Mayor this Summer in Belfast and then again in October for the annual Northwest of Ireland Conference and Golden Bridges award ceremonies.  Something tells me there will be more positive news coming our way from across the Atlantic. 

del.icio.us Tags: Belfast,Boston,Massachusetts,Mairtin O Muilleoir,Marty Walsh,Sean Moynihan,Derry,Improv Asylum,IA Innovation,Game of Thrones,City of Culture 2013,The Moynihan Group

TMG announces new Dublin client – IA Innovation,Inc.

Focus on business development for Dublin branch of Boston-based Innovative leadership and employee training company

                                                         

Technorati Tags: Boston,Dublin,Massachusetts,The Moynihan Group,foreign direct investment,IA Innovation,Improv Asylum,Ireland

The Moynihan Group, LLC (TMG) is pleased to announce its newest client in Dublin, Ireland - IA Innovation, Inc. IA Innovation is a Boston-based corporate training company, which has expanded to Ireland as part of the "Succeed in Ireland" initiative, and will serve businesses throughout Europe. Spawned from the success of Improv Asylum, a multi-faceted entertainment company that launched in May of 1998 in Boston’s historic North End, IA Innovation was created to focus on the growing European demand for innovative and effective corporate employee training. IA will utilize a trademarked brand, methodology and approach to European multinational companies.

TMG will provide relationship facilitation and business development services to IA Innovation throughout the island of Ireland and into Europe by targeting companies and organizations in need of Corporate Leadership and Employee Training programs. Relying on its strong network of professional contacts, TMG’s efforts will include outreach to corporate, government, non-profit and educational organizations.

“We believe our success as an innovative training leader in America will readily translate here in Dublin and beyond, and create a much needed and accessible vehicle to all of our European clients. We are very excited to be partnering with The Moynihan Group in our efforts to establish strong and long lasting relationships within Dublin, throughout the entire island of Ireland, Great Britain and Europe," said IA Innovation partner Robert Melley.

“We are thrilled to be working with IA Innovation because this company embodies the type of cutting edge business we feverishly seek to partner with. The tremendous success of IA Innovation’s partner company Improv Asylum is a true testament to the entrepreneurial spirit alive and well in Boston and is an indication of the success in store for IA Innovation. Accordingly, in our opinion, a move into Ireland is one of the best strategic decisions the company could have made. Working with a Boston company in Ireland uniquely fits directly into our business plan and we look forward to a very productive 2014! ” said Sean P. Moynihan, Principal and Founder of The Moynihan Group.

IA Innovation is based in Dublin and managed and operated by partners Chet Harding, Norm Laviolette and Robert Melley. IA Innovation focuses on innovative training methods designed to teach and deliver the tools necessary to become more effective leaders and accountable employees through effective communication, listening, team building skills, and more.

For more information, please contact TMG at (617) 778-0384 inquiries@themoynihangroup.com  or Kimberley Ring, Ring Communications at (617) 957-9232 kim@ring-communications.com