Although the "Emerald Isle" is divided into two regions, representatives from both Northern Irelandand the Republic of Ireland share a common goal of re-connecting their homelands with their scattered “diaspora.” “Our diaspora is hugely important to us, not least our diaspora here in the United States. Twelve percent of the population of the United States is Irish-American,” said Michael Collins, Ireland's ambassador to the U.S., at a luncheon held in Atlanta to celebrate the opening of Ireland’s new consulate general in Atlanta. http://www.globalatlanta.com/article/24585/