b'A C on v e rsa tionwithBill McKiernan Bill McKiernan is President of WSM Capital LLC and is a San Francisco-based Board Director of The Ireland Funds America. In 2012, Bill founded THE IRELAND FUNDS BUSINESSPLANCOMPETITIONwhich today has stimulated the growth of numerous young companies and initiatives across the island of Ireland. This past June, Bill helped judge the Competition held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Rachel Alabiso, Editor of Connect Magazine, spoke with Bill to learn more about his motivations for establishing the Competition and his views on the importance of The Ireland Funds in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and beyond.connect 201852'