Minister of State Robert Troy visits Texas as part of Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Day programme to the U.S.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Robert Troy T.D., travelled to Texas this month for a programme of events focused on strengthening economic and business links between Ireland and Texas.

The three day programme began in Dallas with a series of meetings with business and financial leaders with a particular focus on financial services. The Minister addressed members of the Irish business community at a breakfast event hosted by the Irish Business Network Dallas, where discussions focused on the growing commercial links between Ireland and the southern United States.

During his time in Dallas, Minister Troy met with senior representatives from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas to exchange views on economic trends and financial markets. He also visited the Texas Stock Exchange, where discussions centred on Dallas as a rapidly growing financial hub and Irish investment in the region.

Minister Troy then travelled to Austin for a programme focused on technology, innovation and Ireland’s engagement at South by Southwest (SXSW), one of the world’s leading gatherings for technology, media and creative industries.

In Austin, the Minister visited the headquarters of Dell Technologies, where he met senior executives. Dell has maintained a significant presence in Ireland for several decades contributing to the company’s continued growth.

The Minister also held meetings with state and local leaders, including discussions with the Texas Secretary of State and the Mayor of Austin. These engagements provided an opportunity to reaffirm the strong relationship between Ireland and Texas and to explore opportunities for continued cooperation in areas including innovation, investment and economic development.

As part of Ireland House at SXSW, Minister Troy delivered opening remarks at a panel discussion titled,” “Irish Sport Rising: Tech, Talent, and Global Partnerships,” which explored how sport, emerging technology, and major global events are driving new business, investment, and partnership opportunities across the sports ecosystem. We were honoured to have Irish Olympic athlete Rhasidat Adeleke participate in this panel. The Minister also spoke at a panel discussion on “AI Without Borders: How Small Nations Are Winning Big.”

During his visit, the Minister also met with Enterprise Ireland client companies participating in SXSW, as well as filmmakers supported by Screen Ireland, the development agency for the Irish film industry. Two Irish productions were screened at SXSW this year Power Ballad, and Hokum.

In addition to economic and innovation-focused engagements, the visit included opportunities to connect with the Irish community in Texas. Minister Troy met with members of the Celtic Cowboys GAA Club in Austin and attended the Consulate General of Ireland’s St Patrick’s reception, which brought together representatives from business, government, and the Irish community.

The visit highlighted the strong and expanding relationship between Ireland and Texas, particularly in sectors such as technology, financial services and innovation. With a growing number of Irish companies operating in the state and significant U.S. investment in Ireland, the connections between the two economies continue to deepen.