Skip to main content

New Hampshire - Ireland Trade Council

New Hampshire – Ireland Trade Council

The New Hampshire legislature created the New Hampshire – Ireland Trade Council (NH RSA 12-O:22-a), with the purpose of advancing bilateral trade and investment between New Hampshire and Ireland, initiating joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to New Hampshire and Ireland, and promoting business and academic exchanges between New Hampshire and Ireland. The Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) and the Secretary of State are tasked with administering the designation process and related programming.  

New Hampshire’s ties to Ireland go back more than 300 years, when a group of Scots-Irish families built the settlement of Nutfield, land which is now a part of Windham, Derry, and Londonderry. Irish Americans were an important part of New Hampshire early history, such as Gen. John Sullivan, who helped win the American Revolution, served in the Continental Congress, and was New Hampshire's third Governor. Today, New Hampshire and Ireland celebrate a robust trade relationship, with more than $450 million in two-way trade in goods (in 2023).

Council Members
Membership of the NH- Ireland Trade Council is determined by legislation (NH RSA 12-O:22-a(III)) and includes:
  • Senators
    • Hon. Sharon Carson, CHAIR
    • Hon. Regina Birdsell
  • Representatives
    • Hon. Dennis Malloy
    • Hon. Sherman Packard
  • Secretary of State
    • Hon. Steve Shurtleff
  • Department of Business and Economic Affairs
    • Taylor Caswell
    • Jeanie Forrester
  • Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire
    • Mike Skelton
  • University System of New Hampshire
    • Dean Michele Dillon
  • Public and Other Members
    • Michael Barrett, Granite State District Export Council
    • Justin Oslowski, U.S. Commercial Service
    • Julie Demers, NH Tech Alliance
    • Andrea Hechavarria, NH Life Sciences Association
    • Darragh Madden, Irish Electric
Council Meetings and Minutes
  • January 17, 2025, meeting; hosted at BEA (100 N. Main St., Concord NH 03301) from 1:30 – 2:30 PM
  • November 21, 2024, meeting; hosted at BEA (100 N. Main St., Concord, NH 03301) from 1:30 – 2:30 PM
  • October 23, 2024, meeting; hosted at BEA (100 N. Main St., Concord, NH 03301) from 1:00 – 2:00 PM