Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

John Brennan AP Photo/Charles Dharapak/File

The head of the CIA is going to a gathering in Roscommon tonight

John Brennan, whose father is a Roscommon native, is returning to his ancestral homeland in a personal capacity tonight.

JOHN BRENNAN, THE head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), will attend an event to mark The Gathering in the Roscommon village of Kilteevan tonight.

Brennan, whose father is a Roscommon native, became director of the agency in January of this year following the resignation of David Petraeus over an affair with his biographer.

Brennan, 57, is a 25-year CIA veteran whose father Owen was born in Cloontuskert in Kilteevan, about two miles from Roscommon town. He emigrated to the US in 1948 but his son regularly visits Roscommon.

It’s understood that Brennan is in Kilteevan tonight in a personal capacity having been invited back by The Gathering committee.

The Gathering is the government’s year-long campaign to get the Irish diaspora back home and has been widely hailed as a success so far with tourism numbers up by over five per cent in the first six months of the year.

More: Irishman who planned bin Laden raid to be named as new CIA head

Read: Boost for tourism with visitor numbers up 5.4 per cent in first six months

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
140 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds