[3] When Ireland joined the European Economic Community in January 1973, Andy Mulligan first became head of the division responsible for general reports, but his journalism experience led to the role of director of press and information at the EEC delegation in Washington in 1974.

[3] For the next seven years he worked with the aim of informing the American public, and especially centres of power and learning, about the EEC.

One of his achievements was the setting up of a professionally produced and written magazine, Europe, to replace the free publication which had been mainly distributed on campuses.

[3] Andy Mulligan also organised valuable transatlantic seminars, bringing together media, diplomats and experts.

One of the most notable was at Waterville, County Kerry, in 1979, during the Irish European Commission Presidency, which was attended by the then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch.