On December 14, 2012 U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Daniel M. Rooney resigned his post and returned to Pittsburgh. Ambassador Rooney was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland on July 1, 2009 and presented his credentials to President Mary McAleese on July 3, 2009. In an op-ed published by the Irish Times on December 14, 2012, Ambassador Rooney writes:

“It has been an honour and privilege to represent the US as ambassador to Ireland. The president charged me to protect and build the historic and deep friendship between our two countries. I am pleased to say this relationship is the strongest it has ever been. Ours is not a foreign relationship between two countries but a shared kinship between two great peoples.”

On the day that Ambassador Rooney left the country, the US Embassy posted the following short clip on its YouTube page.

“As Ambassador Dan Rooney leaves Ireland after three and a half years, we look back at what he achieved during his time here. This included a visit from President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, a tour of Ireland’s 32 counties and strengthening the relationship between Ireland and the United States.”

We don’t always see a look back from posts.  The embassy also put together a collection of photos over in Flickr.  A nice send off.  The embassy’s deputy chief of mission, John Hennessey-Niland has assumed office as Chargé d’affaires until the next ambassador is nominated and confirmed.

Related articles

• Rooney To Resign As Ambassador To Ireland (pittsburgh.cbslocal.com)
• Rooney steps down as ambassador to Ireland (espn.go.com)
• Report: Dan Rooney To Resign US Ambassador To Ireland Position On Friday (steelersdepot.com)