U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Edward S. Walsh and Minister Helen McEntee TD Speak at AmCham's 2026 Global Business Conference
U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Edward S. Walsh, sat down for a fireside chat with AmCham CEO Paul Sweetman at AmCham's 2026 Global Business Conference.
Ambassador Walsh spoke about prioritising the US-Ireland business relationship, “when I did my list of goals for the year, number one is continuing the business relationship between Ireland and America.”
He also highlighted the unique position Ireland holds, where it is both deeply connected to the United States in business, while being firmly embedded within the European Union.
“It is amazing that Ireland has put itself in this position where it is so US-centric in the sense of business, and, part of the EU. It is such an amazing position to be in,” he said. “You can leverage all of that and really become whatever you want.”
Looking ahead, the Ambassador was optimistic about Ireland’s trajectory, “as I look at 2026, I’m not sure there is a better time in Ireland’s history". He continued, "if you are in business right now, I’m not sure it could be a better time.”
While acknowledging challenges around housing and energy, Ambassador Walsh noted that these pressures are not unique to Ireland. “Everybody is trying to solve those problems,” he said, noting that they are challenges that reflect Ireland’s growth and ambition.
The Ambassador also highlighted the scale of opportunity for Irish companies expanding into the United States, particularly smaller firms with ambitions to grow.
“Smaller companies that are looking to go to the United States and grow their business — that part of it is really amazing,” he said.
Ambassador Walsh said that the advice from companies that have grown successfully in the US market is that if starting again they would move quicker because “they have grown tremendously in the US. The market is just that much bigger.”
Ambassador Walsh also spoke about the upcoming St. Patrick’s week celebrations in the US noting: “The week itself is great. The Taoiseach did a great job last year. We have a lot of positive things to say this year, and I think it is going to be really great.”
Helen McEntee TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister for Defence, also joined the conference for a short video address. She spoke about the deep and wide-ranging economic ties between Ireland and the United States, she highlighted that it is “a relationship that continues to grow, it continues to evolve, and it’s one that delivers real value on both sides of the Atlantic.”
She also noted that this economic relationship "is one of the most dynamic in the world … the US is Ireland’s largest trading partner, with roughly 900 US companies directly employing 245,000 people in Ireland”.
She continued that the centuries of rich connections between the US and Ireland “inspire our shared ambition for growth, innovation and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Looking ahead to Ireland’s EU Presidency, Minister McEntee said “Ireland will always advocate for an open global trading and investment environment and stability in our economic relationships.”
AmCham’s Global Business Conference is sponsored by Bank of America Business with The Irish Times as the official media partner and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as US conference partner.
