Earle and Barbara Scarlett, the glamorous couple who have been counsellor (i.e., number two) and public affairs officer respectively at the US embassy for the last three years, are leaving Ireland. Earle will be the new senior international affairs adviser to the commander of the air force base and war college at Montgomery, Alabama. Barbara is changing career and is currently in the US studying job offers.
Earle will be replaced by Jane Barton Fort, aka Ky, who has been the US consul-general in Belfast for several years. It's a good thing she knows Ireland well since, as ambassador Mike Sullivan leaves on June 21st and the Scarletts leave around the same time, she could be running the show herself until the new ambassador arrives. Computer storage billionaire Richard Egan has been nominated by George W. Bush, but has yet to be approved by the Senate.
Quidnunc can be contacted at rholohan@irish-times.ie
