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Edward Crawford has begun his term as the US ambassador to Ireland.<\/p>\nEdward Crawford has begun his term as the US ambassador to Ireland.<\/p>\n
Mr Crawford presented his credentials to President Michael D Higgins at a ceremony today, officially assuming the office of United States ambassador to Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am deeply honored to serve in this role,\u201d said ambassador Crawford, whose parents emigrated from Ireland in the 1920s.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was a young boy, my parents instilled in me a deep love and sense of connection to Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs ambassador, I plan to build on our important relationship and strengthen the bonds between our two countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prior to his appointment, he founded and served as chairman and CEO of Park-Ohio Industries, an international industrial enterprise with annual revenues of two billion dollars and 8,000 associates worldwide.<\/p>\n
He is the recipient of the Northeast Ohio Business Hall of Fame Entrepreneurial Award, Small Business News Master Innovator Award, Ernst & Young Northeast Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Small Business Administration Man of the Year-Ohio Award.<\/p>\n
He has a long history of philanthropy and entrepreneurship in Cleveland, Ohio, where has been active for many years in the city\u2019s Irish-American community.<\/p>\n
Mr Crawford also is an avid sportsman. He is an active member of Masters Basketball, a Golden Gloves boxer and has run in the Boston Marathon.<\/p>\n
Mr Crawford traveled to Ireland following his confirmation by the US Senate on June 13.<\/p>\n
He and his wife Mary have one son, Matthew, who is married to Deborah, and three grandchildren, Colin, Catherine and Claire.<\/p>\n