On November 17, representatives from the International Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Appalachian Mountain Club and the mayors of Donegal, Ireland and Derry City and Strabane District Council, Northern Ireland met at the AMC headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts to discuss cooperation on the development of IAT Ulster Ireland, which traverses the Appalachian terrane of the Emerald Isle.
The mayors were in Boston to attend the Irish Echo’s eighth annual Golden Bridges Conference “which have taken place successfully since 2008. Featured speakers at these events have included leaders from across Ireland alongside their counterparts in Boston and Massachusetts. Golden Bridges spotlights community, business, and education initiatives in northwest Ireland and promotes partnerships with their peers in Boston and Massachusetts.” Derry City and Strabane District Council Mayor Hilary McClintock and Donegal Mayor Terence Slowey both attended events related to the 2016 IAT Annual Meeting hosted by IAT Ulster Ireland from September 19 to 25, with the District Council hosting a pre-AGM Dinner at the Guildhall in Derry on September 21.
Plans for future IAT/ATC/AMC cooperation include a possible April 2017 visit to IAT Ulster Ireland and Ulster Ireland attendance at the ATC 2017 Biennial Conference being hosted by Maine from August 4-11.