Waterford and Boston share a 'strong mutual understanding' following St Patricks Day visit
Led by the Mayor of Waterford and accompanied by councillors and senior officials, the US visit combined high-level civic engagements, business meetings and cultural events
A delegation from Waterford City and County Council visited Boston, Massachusetts to participate in the city’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations and to advance both cultural and economic partnerships.
Led by Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Seamus Ryan and accompanied by Councillors and senior officials, the visit took place from March 11-16, combining high-level civic engagements, business meetings along with cultural events.
A highlight was participation in the historic South Boston St Patrick’s Day Parade, where upwards of one million spectators lined the route, highlighting the deep-rooted shared heritage between Ireland and the United States. Throughout the visit, the delegation met with key stakeholders including senior IDA Ireland officials, members of the Boston Irish Business Association and senior executives from global companies such as State Street and CarGurus.
These engagements showed the county’s strong value proposition as a growing hub for investment, innovation and talent. Attendees also met with Waterford woman Sharon Cunningham, CEO and co-founder of Shorla Oncology, at the company’s US Headquarters in Boston. Academic and cultural links were also reinforced by attendance at the South Boston Citizens Association Evacuation Day Banquet, where Mayor Ryan was a guest of honour along with Mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu. Discussions with the Irish Institute, Boston College and exploration of historical connections were also shared.
Mayor Ryan noted that the visit reflected “a strong mutual understanding and shared commitment between Waterford and Boston to deepen cultural appreciation and expand economic opportunity.”
“The programme of engagements during the visit demonstrated a clear openness for continued collaboration and exchange,” he added.
The overall cost of the visit was €18,114.82 and included accommodation, transfers and gifts to Boston hosts, which consisted of locally sourced Waterford artisan products.
The full report can be viewed at https://bit.ly/Waterford-Boston2026