Ken Reid: Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Away from the limelight
News
They will be putting on the style on Tuesday night in Washington as the Irish American community prepares for St Patrick's Day...
Hillary Clinton will the guest of honour as 1,200 guests attend swanky ball in downtown DC.
Brian Cowen, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness are on the guest list at a major fund-raiser for the America Ireland Fund.
On Wednesday President Obama will host a party for 350 in the White House.
It is the hottest ticket in town with 30 from Northern Ireland mingling with a largely American audience.
Away from the limelight there is some important work going on.
The International Fund for Ireland has for some years been hosting a programme for community leaders.
This time there are 12 being shown the realities of life in some of the tougher areas of US cities.
The very able Duncan Morrow from the Community Relations Council is here as is IFI chairman Denis Rooney.
On Monday night I had the privilege of spending some time in their company and they are learning a lot.
This year's batch are youth leaders from interface areas and they have interesting stories to tell.
The American administration obviously values this work and there is good news for four of the leaders.
They are getting prized invitations to President Obama's party.
That's a gig they can rightly boast about when they get home.
Well deserved!
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