The Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, expressed her solidarity and sympathy for the people of New York here yesterday when she launched Showcase Ireland and visited Ground Zero three months after the September 11th attack.
Showcase Ireland, which takes place at the RDS on January 20th, is usually launched in Dublin. But this year, organisers - the Craft Council of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland - came to New York "as a statement of loyalty, support and solidarity with our US friends".
They wanted, they said, to demonstrate "the strong ties between us that can't be damaged, only strengthened".
Initial fear that US buyers, who make up 600 of the 2,000 who visited the RDS last January, would not travel, have not materialised and bookings are already up 18 per cent over last year.
Several dozen buyers from the biggest and best US stores attended the lunch marking the launch of Showcase 2002 in the 21 Club in Central Manhattan yesterday.
Last year, Showcase Ireland generated sales of $50 million (€56 million), $9.2 million from the US. The international exhibition of Irish craft, gift and fashion wear is 26 years old.
The Tβnaiste said yesterday that September 11th was a day that would live in infamy. People in Ireland continued to feel the pain. Showcase Ireland felt it was right to take the launch to New York.
One could not say in words, Ms Harney said, how appropriate it was to empathise with New Yorkers and show loyalty by coming to the City.
The Irish much admired the American people and while they shared their pain they would move forward together.
Dr Frances Ruane, a native of New York and chairman of the Craft Council of Ireland, spoke about how people were willing to pay for something that was individual and hand-made.
She was particularly impressed with the variety of new contemporary products in each Showcase and thanked all loyal American buyers.
At Ground Zero, the Tβnaiste was shown the recovery work in progress on the site of the Twin Towers from a viewing platform by the First Deputy Commissioner of Police for New York, Mr Joe Dunne, an Irish American.
She discussed with him the number of first and second generation Irish who had died on the day serving with the police and fire department and of her regard for the crews working day and night in dangerous conditions to recover bodies and clear the site.
