Eagles in Ireland

Eagles in ireland

When I was growing up in the Savannah area, St. Patrick’s Day was always one of my favorite events of the year.

We were usually out of school and almost always attended the parade downtown.

I remember the parade fondly, particularly the Clydesdale horses, the marching bands and the families who walked the parade.

I have been blessed to be able to participate in many of the activities of the Irish holiday, first as mayor of the city of Pooler, then when serving in the Georgia state legislature and now while serving in Congress.

That has given me an even better understanding of the importance of celebrating Savannah’s Irish heritage.

But the history and heritage we share with Ireland goes much deeper than an annual parade.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit and tour Georgia Southern University’s European campus in Wexford, Ireland.

The Wexford campus is the first learning center in Ireland established by an American public university and, in keeping with Ireland’s commitment to preserving its past, it is in a building built in 1812.

GSU is currently renovating a building from 1886 as a student residence.

My visit was led by Howard Keeley, a native of Dublin and the first director of the Center for Irish Research and Teaching program at GSU.

He was awarded the 2023 Irish Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad, the highest honor that the country of Ireland can bestow on a nonresident.

Ireland, known as the Emerald Isle, is simply magical with breathtaking seashores and rolling hills and pastures. After visiting a beautiful seaside town in County Wexford, we had lunch at a beautiful manor house hotel and were joined by Irish Sen.

Malcolm Byrne from Gorey, who serves as the spokesperson on further and higher education in Ireland and has been a key partner in GSU’s teaching and research endeavors in Ireland.

Next, we headed to Wexford Town, where we visited the Wexford Arts Centre and witnessed some of the work done by GSU students researching the Wexford-Savannah Axis, including some of the advertisements from the 1840s and 1850s encouraging Wexford people to emigrate to Savannah.

We were welcomed to Wexford Town by local dignitaries including the mayor and county chair and James Brown, one of Wexford Towns members of the Irish Parliament House.

The next morning, we toured the GSU Learning Center before stopping by the statue of John Barry, who was born 11 miles south of Wexford Town and is known as the “Father of the U.S. Navy.”

Afterward, we traveled to New Ross, where we visited the Dunbrody Emigration Center and saw a full-scale reproduction of the Dunbrody, a three-mast sailing ship.

GSU students discovered that this ship made its maiden commercial voyage to Savannah in 1845 and berthed at the River Street docks.

For more than 10 years, the Dunbrody brought Irish immigrants to Savannah, immigrants with family names like Corish, Kehoe, O’Connor and Rossiter, forever shaping the culture of our beloved city.

Wherever I travel, I am constantly reminded of the impact Georgia has on the world.

Thanks to the outstanding work of GSU, the Savannah-Wexford axis remains alive, always keeping our Irish heritage and Georgia on my mind.

BUDDY'S BRIEFING

In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we are discussing to stops we made in our Take Buddy To Work initiative. This week, we went to the Blackshear Times and B Mac's Buffet in Waycross.

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Tuesday, September 3, 2024: After a great Labor Day weekend, I’m back at it this morning as I join in on our all staff conference call before heading up to Savannah where I have a delightful visit with Heads-Up Guidance Services (HUGS). Founded by Andrea Mamalakis Epting, HUGS is a non-profit organization that provides behavioral health counseling and addiction recovery services to the under-insured and those lacking the financial means to pay the high cost of services. Before being led on a tour of the facility, I was honored to meet members of the board of directors as well as volunteer counselors who work with motivated patients who want growth, independence and emotionally healthy lifestyles. After a great visit, I head to the Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island for an update on the $276 million expansion project that will include an additional 100,000 square foot exhibit hall, 40,000 square foot ballroom, 15 meeting rooms and 900+ parking space. With these additions, the size and capacity of the original center that opened in 2000 will double. After meeting with General Manager Kelvin Moore, members of the board including long time Chairman of the Board Mark Smith, representatives from the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC), and staff overseeing the project, I have a hard hat tour of this most impressive facility. Next, I head to Sapelo Hammock Golf Club in north McIntosh County for a reception held by the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) in honor of JB Harris Transport and Logistics, the first of what I am sure will be many companies that are locating at Tidewaters Industrial Complex in McIntosh. Strategically located between the Port of Savannah, the number three container port in the country, and the Port of Brunswick, the number two roll on/roll off port in the country, and JaxPort in Jacksonville, FL, Tidewaters has immediate access to I-95 and is primed for tremendous growth in the future.

Rep. Carter visits HUGS

Wednesday, September 4, 2024: I’m at my third “Take Buddy to Work” stop this morning as I head to Blackshear in Pierce County and visit the Blackshear Times newspaper, one of the many local rural papers we have in the district and throughout South Georgia. Along with the Waycross Journal Herald and the Brantley Beacon, the Blackshear Times is one of three area papers owned by Rich Head. After a briefing with Rick, who covers sports for the paper, news editor Jason Deal and staff writer Greg O’Driscoll to help me better understand how the paper is put together every week, we pay a visit to the Blackshear Post Office where Postmaster Joey McQuaig explains how his operation works and has changed over the past few years. Local papers depend on the Post Office for their papers to be delivered in a timely manner and because of the centralization of postal distribution centers, local papers are often being delayed significantly. Obviously, this is a major challenge to local papers that are already struggling to survive. Afterwards, I head to the Tidewaters Industrial Complex in McIntosh County where I am honored to speak at the ribbon cutting for JB Harris Transportation and Logistics. JB Harris’ facility at Tidewaters handles heavy machinery that arrives at the Brunswick port, processes it at their facility and customizes it for clients before transporting it to them. Along with other local elected officials, we hear from Josh Harris, President of JB Harris, a great family-owned company based in Newnan, GA, that has been recognized as a Top 10 Shipping Services Company by Logistics and Transportation Review. Afterwards, I meet with City of Darien and McIntosh County officials, including Darien Mayor Bubba Hodge, Mayor Pro-Tem Griffin Lotson, McIntosh County Commission Chairwoman Kate Karwacki, and Darien City Manager Richard Braun. Next, I head to Ludowici in Long County where I have a virtual interview with the World Economic Forum to discuss supply chain initiatives before having an interview with WSAV-TV in Savannah to discuss the horrific school shooting in Winder-Barrow County yesterday that took the lives of two teachers and two students. Afterwards, I meet with Long County Sheriff Craig Nobles and county officials to discuss some recent developments in the county. Afterwards, I head to our Brunswick district office, and during the drive, I have a conference call with the Superintendent of Cumberland Island National Park and other Park officials as they bring me up to date on recent developments at this national treasure. Once at our Brunswick district office, I film this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefings and Material Minute.

Rep. Carter visits the Blackshear Times

Thursday, September 5, 2024: I’m in Savannah this morning as I pay a visit to the POET terminal, a rail-to-container transload facility located near the Port of Savannah that provides access to key global markets for POET’s animal feed products, including corn fermented protein and dried distillers grains. POET is the largest company in the state of South Dakota and the single largest producer of corn ethanol and biofuel in the world as well as the 17^th largest shipping container exporter in the U.S. After a great visit, I head to the Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island where I join the United Way celebration for their annual campaign kickoff. United Way has been an integral part of our district for many years and, in 2021, invested more than $3.36 million in 86 programs across 54 nonprofit agencies in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties. Next, I head to a meeting with Savannah area auto dealers to discuss issues impacting their businesses, including the transition to electric vehicles and how the upcoming election may or may not affect that. Afterwards, I head to our Savannah district office where I have a virtual interview with WJCL-TV in Savannah to discuss the school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder-Barrow County earlier this week before having an on-camera interview with a filmmaker for a documentary regarding my work in Congress to reign in Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM’s).

Rep. Carter visits the POET Terminal

Friday, September 6, 2024: I’m up early and live on Mornings with Maria as I join guest host Cheryl Casone to discuss energy prices and the upcoming vote in the House on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown. Later, I head to Waycross in Ware County where I visit McKinney Medical Center, one of the fine Federally Qualified Health Care Centers (FQHC’s) in our district. Serving Ware and surrounding counties, McKinney has been providing first class medical care since 1995 and under the leadership of CEO Ola Smith-Carter, a supportive board of directors, and an exceptional staff, patients are treated with dignity regardless of their ability to pay. After a great visit, I head to our fourth “Take Buddy to Work” stop at B Mac’s Buffett in Waycross where owner, Bart McKinney, runs a classic family small business. Along with Waycross, B Mac's Buffett has locations in Folkston, Callahan, FL, and soon will be locating to Jacksonville. Although rising food prices have presented a challenge to restaurants, B Mac's has been able to keep their prices competitive and, like most small businesses, understands the value of customer service and employee retention.

Rep. Carter at B Mac's Buffet

Apalachee High School Tragedy

This past week, on Wednesday, our state experienced a tremendous loss. Our friends and neighbors in Winder, in Barrow County Georgia, lost 4 loved ones to senseless violence. Our thoughts and our prayers are with all the families and students effected by this horrific tragedy, and we remember the lives of the ones we lost.

Richard Aspinwall, 39, a beloved teacher and coach
Cristina Irimie, 53, a math teacher, cherished by her students
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, a freshman, looking forward to going to Disney World
Christian Angulo, 14, a student that was loved by many

We remember these loved ones and what they meant to our community. We pray for their families and for the recovery of the 9 others that were injured.

For more mental health resources, please visit here and here.