Nearly three dozen local residents are in Ireland for a seven-day stay after boarding the inaugural flight of Aer Lingus out of Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks this past week.

Tony Sheridan, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, said in an interview from Ireland on Friday that the group of 32 chamber members and friends enjoyed a great send-off from Hartford and then were treated to a party in Ireland sponsored by Aer Lingus.

"We applaud Governor Malloy's efforts to foster great tourism in Connecticut and put us on the map internationally," Sheridan said in a statement.

Sheridan said chamber members gathered at the organization's offices Wednesday before traveling to Bradley to greet the first Aer Lingus flight into Connecticut. They were in turn sent off by state officials on the first direct Aer Lingus flight from Bradley to Dublin.

It was the first international flight from Bradley since Northwest Airlines ended nonstops to Amsterdam in 2008.

Sheridan said the best thing about having a direct flight to Ireland is the number of connections available from there to other Western European countries. According to the Hartford Business Journal, Aer Lingus will fly daily to Dublin through Nov. 1 before instituting a limited schedule for a few months until the spring tourism season heats up and seven flights a week go back into effect.

"It's a very convenient flight," said Sheridan, who reported it took only about five and a half hours from Hartford to Dublin. "For Connecticut, it's a great deal."

The southeastern Connecticut contingent was greeted at the airport by Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and Catherine Smith, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. Aer Lingus managers served Guinness and snacks to the guests, along with providing a taste of Irish music and dancing.

Sheridan said the state didn't fully get behind the previous international carrier, but he believes everyone is on board this time around.

"We're eager to build up the tourism business," he said.

Sheridan, in Ireland mostly to promote the region's tourism attractions, said Connecticut has made few inroads over the past few years in encouraging more European travelers to come to the state. Most flights from overseas come into New York and Boston, essentially capturing the tourism dollars as well, he said.

But having international flights now will allow Connecticut to develop package deals to keep travelers in state, he said, while allowing business travelers a more convenient way to reach Europe.

"Who the hell wants to get on (Interstate) 95," he said. "Sometimes traveling on I-95 takes longer than the flight."

l.howard@theday.com