As part of its ongoing commitment to local government officials in Ireland and Northern Ireland, the Irish Institute hosted managers from Coleraine, Limavady, Ballymoney and Derry City Councils for a program focusing on municipal administration and leadership from October 19 - 29 in Boston, MA, Baltimore, MD, and Washington, D.C.

Participants attended a number of graduate-level seminars led by faculty from the Boston College Carroll School of Management and the Political Science Department, including Professor Marc Landy, Professor Dennis Hale, Professor Judith Clair; and Professor M. H. Safizadeh. They also visited cities and towns in Massachusetts, meeting with city officials such as David Cohen, Mayor of Newton; Michael A. Jaillet, Town Administrator, town of Westwood; and Dennis DiMarzio, Chief Operating Officer, City of Boston.

The participants also had the opportunity to meet with Mayor Martin O'Malley, Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, where special attention was given to the CITISTAT system and other methods of improving service and accountability in city governance. The group also met with Deputy Mayor Michael Enright, Chief Operating Officer, City of Baltimore, and with Mr. Jay Brodie, President of the Baltimore Development Corporation. In Washington, D.C., the group was hosted by the Northern Ireland Bureau.

The Developing Managers Program was specially designed by the Irish Institute to meet the needs of emerging municipal leaders in district council areas and was funded by the Local Staff Commission and by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.