Mary McAleese on Peace, Progress, and Ireland’s Future | Fireside Chat at Impact Ireland GAC 2024

Dublin – October 4, 2024 – Former President of Ireland, Dr Mary McAleese, delivered a powerful and personal keynote conversation at the Impact Ireland GAC 2024 hosted by Venturewave. In a fireside chat that resonated deeply with attendees, McAleese reflected on the legacy of peace, the responsibility of leadership, and the importance of keeping Ireland’s values at the heart of global influence.

The session, titled “Peace, Progress, and Ireland’s Future”, took place at Dublin Castle and was a highlight of the 2024 Global Advisory Council gathering. Dr McAleese addressed a room of global investors, policy leaders, founders, and changemakers with a clear and urgent message: peace is not the absence of conflict, but the constant pursuit of justice, equity, and inclusion.

She also shared reflections on Ireland’s evolving global role, particularly in areas of diplomacy, human rights, and impact-driven innovation. Her insights underscored the goals of Venturewave and the Impact Ireland initiative: to connect global capital with Irish values, and to invest in solutions that honour both societal and financial returns.

“The world is watching Ireland, not just for what we’ve achieved, but for how we lead,” McAleese stated. “Our responsibility is not just to remember the peace process, but to apply its lessons to everything we do—especially in business, law, and governance.”

This landmark conversation with Mary McAleese at Impact Ireland 2024 serves as a reminder that Ireland’s soft power is grounded in real-world credibility, earned through decades of perseverance, diplomacy, and principled leadership.

Watch the Full Fireside Chat

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