New York, NY; March 29, 2010: The Spring Corporate Lunch hosted by the Ireland-U.S. Council to be held Thursday, May 6 at Dublin's Four Seasons Hotel will feature a double-bill Guest Speaker platform. The Chief Executive of the Dublin Airport Authority Declan Collier will address the group and will highlight how the new €400 million ($540 million) Dublin Airport Terminal will boost Ireland’s air bridge to America. Also appearing at the speaker’s podium at the Council lunch will be the noted and distinguished American commentator, Ms. Lee Cullum.

The Ireland-U.S. Council was founded in 1963 by business leaders in America and Ireland . A principal objective is to encourage business links between America and Ireland , North & South. In pursuit of its mission, the Council, among other activities, operates scholarship and internship programs, undertakes various publishing initiatives and frequently hosts seminar platforms and other business-oriented events in Ireland and in America .

Declan Collier joined the Dublin Airport Authority as Chief Executive in April 2005. Prior to his appointment, Declan worked all his professional career with ExxonMobil, one of the world’s largest commercial providers of energy, transportation services and infrastructure.

Also appearing at the speaker’s podium at the Council lunch will be the noted American commentator, Ms. Lee Cullum. A former editor of the editorial page of the Dallas Times Herald, she now contributes columns to the Dallas Morning News and commentaries to National Public Radio. She also is host of CEO, a series of interviews with leaders from the world of business, produced by the PBS television station in Texas .

Ms. Cullum has done regular commentary for the PBS network current affairs television show NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and National Public Radio's popular news program All Things Considered. She has also edited D Magazine, which during her tenure won a National Magazine Award. She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas .

The President of the Council's Ireland Chapter, Mr. Brian Goggin said "The Council is delighted to host a luncheon with two such important speakers. Declan Collier's remarks will highlight how the links between America and Ireland can only prosper with an efficient and effective air bridge between the island of Ireland and the United States. The new second terminal at Dublin Airport, costing €400 million ($540 million) will make a major impact on the quality of the air bridge experience in travel from Dublin to the United States. The new terminal has annual capacity to handle up to 15 million passengers and will accommodate new U.S. immigration and customs pre-clearance facilities. This new terminal at Dublin Airport that will handle U.S.-bound traffic will mark an important milestone for relations between Ireland and the U.S."

"We are also very pleased to welcome such a distinguished commentator from the United States. Council members and guests look forward with eagerness to hearing remarks by such a thoughtful and insightful observer of America's business and political scene. I know that our Council members and their guests will benefit greatly from the remarks and insights of both our speakers on this occasion. We look forward to welcoming them to the Council event."

Further information from:
Dublin: Roddy Feely: Tel: (01) 667 4040; Fax: (01) 667 4041; e-mail: iusc@eircom.net
New York: Geraldine Byrne: Tel: (212) 867 6268; Fax (212) 730 2232; e-mail: rsvpiusc@aol.com