[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 94 (Thursday, June 7, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNITION OF THE #WEARINGIRISH CAMPAIGN

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                         HON. BRENDAN F. BOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 7, 2018

  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to 
celebrate the #Wearinglrish social media campaign started by Margaret 
Molloy, and the Irish designers that will be recognized by the campaign 
this year.
  For the past two years, Molloy has been encouraging her friends and 
family to wear Irish clothing and jewelry during March and highlighting 
their fashion choices by using the hashtag #Wearinglrish. What started 
as a small endeavor has grown into a movement that has captured the 
attention of everyone from the President of Ireland to the top fashion 
industry leaders in New York City.
  She launched the Wearinglrish NYC 2018 competition this past March, 
which will bring Ireland's best fashion and accessory designers to the 
United States where they will have the opportunity to showcase their 
talent and gain exposure to leaders in the American fashion industry. 
Out of 170 applicants, 10 winners will make their way to the iconic 
Grand Central Terminal in New York to debut their collections.
  The winning brands represent the best of modern Ireland: Aine, Alison 
Conneely, Blaithin Ennis, De Bruir, Inner Island, Jennifer Rothwell, 
Natalie B. Coleman, Sands and Hall, The Tweed Project, and Triona. They 
should be commended for their impressive accomplishments in their 
field.
  I believe that this competition comes at an important time for the 
U.S.-Ireland relationship. This modem friendship is built not just on 
shared heritage, but also on strong commercial and economic 
partnership. The #Wearinglrish campaign embodies this spirit and only 
strengthens the bonds between our two nations. I congratulate Margaret 
and all of the winning designers on their efforts to make this 
possible. Their passion for Ireland resonates deeply with my own Irish-
American heritage and embodies the forward facing, mutually beneficial 
relationship our two nations enjoy.

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