I am just back from San Francisco, Palo Alto, Cupertino and LA, after a hectic week of meetings and functions as we attempt to ‘bring home the bacon’ and deepen relationships in Silicon Valley and on the West Coast generally.
Our meetings were timed to coincide with the First and deputy First Ministers (FMdFM) being in the US so that we could support them and vice versa. When FMdFM were delayed departing for the US because of the atrocities of Antrim and Lurgan it made it doubly important for us and InvestNI and the private sector folks to be there to fill the vacuum.
We did our bit and were delighted to be able to point to the positive and unified statements being issued back home and to the clamour of activity from ordinary people, the gatherings at City Hall, the staggering traffic on the subject on Twitter and facebook and the other social networking sites.
When FMdFM arrived in LA on Wednesday evening the two men were quickly afforded an opportunity to address a very influential and eclectic gathering at the residence of the Bob Peirce British Consul-General which was also attended by the Irish Consul. The gathering had movie moguls and tech company Presidents and such luminary ex-pats as Film Star and Producer Kenneth Branagh, Adrian Spence the Ards Mistraeo and Musical Director of Camerata Pacifica, and my old school mate and ‘Rock Star’ of the video gaming industry David Perry who is based in Laguna Beach.
Both FM and dFM, in their different styles, delivered excellent messages, firstly of sympathy and second of unity of purpose that we will not be going back. They also relayed a powerful sales proposition, promoting business as usual and unfolding the distinct opportunity that the province affords in challenging times.
There is often reference in the US to the two traditions – Scots Irish/Ulster Scots and Nationalist/Catholic – but this time Martin McGuinness received noisy acclamation for saying that it was about time that we started to refer to one community and not two.
Indeed by the next day, as the men got into their stride at a Tourism Ireland function (fantastically organised by the wonderful and bubbly Deirdre O'Neill) one community it was and the traditions were appropriately referenced in a well structured sales pitch of our many attractions and rich culture.
I have to say the First Ministers spoke with passion and professionalism and the much needed message was warmly received.
As I depart the US I hope and pray that they (and indeed all of us) take every opportunity to stay on message.
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