The Irish Institute is pleased to welcome the participants of the Young Political Leaders Program on Federalism, 2000 to Boston and to Boston College. Participants represent nearly every major political party in the British and Irish Isles. They visited Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland, as well as organizations in the Boston area, with the aim of learning how the United States system of government opperates at city, state and federal level.

Participants were given the opportunity to participate in seminars to improve their communication and negotiation skills and to discuss and analyze differences and similarities between the United States federal and European federal system. The group also met with citizens groups and witness how citizens can interact with municipal, state and federal administrations though community projects and the legislatures.