A NEWLY appointed Consul General of Ireland for the North of England has been welcomed in Manchester.
Cillian O’Kelly has taken up the role from predecessor Sarah Mangan.
In a statement Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affiars said the Sligo native, who was previously Deputy Director of the Strategy, Governance and Change Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin, has “hit the ground running”.
“We are delighted to welcome Cillian O’Kelly, the new Consul General of Ireland for the North of England,” they said.
“Originally from Sligo, Cillian has hit the ground running in his first few weeks, visiting Irish community members across the region, joining in Manchester’s Pride parade, and meeting with local officials,” they added.
Cillian O’Kelly is the new Consul General of Ireland for the North of England“Cillian is excited to continue building strong connections with the Irish community and all those across the North of England, strengthening the deep ties between Ireland and this vibrant region. Welcome Cillian. “
In a welcome message, Mr O’Kelly, a married father-od-two, said he will use the role to “enrich and strengthen the relationship between Ireland and the North of England in the years to come”.
“The decision to open a Consulate General in the North of England was a concrete expression of the Irish Government’s enduring commitment to the British–Irish relationship, to the Irish community in Britain, and Irish businesses operating here,” he said.
“The ties between Ireland and the North of England are exceptionally deep – the North of England is also home to over 135,000 people who were born on the island of Ireland, and many thousands more who claim Irish descent – and I look forward to further contributing to the development these links in the years ahead,” he added.
First opened in July 2021, the Consulate General of Ireland for the North of England is based in Manchester.
It is responsible for representing Irish interests in the northeast, the northwest, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Cillian O’Kelly pictured with colleagues at he Consulate General in Manchester (Pics: Dfa.ie)“We work closely with the Embassy of Ireland in London, where Ambassador Martin Fraser leads efforts to promote Ireland’s interests in Great Britain,” Mr O’Kelly explained.
“We also work closely with the State Agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, who are also based in Manchester, as part of Team Ireland’s collective work to advance Ireland’s commercial and promotional interests in the North of England,” he added.
“Through the Emigrant Support Programme, the Irish Government already supports nearly 30 Irish community organisations across the region.
“We look forward to building on these existing relationships and engaging with the dozens of Irish heritage and culture bodies in the North of England, supporting community and cultural activities.
“We hope the Consulate General will do much to enrich and strengthen the relationship between Ireland and the North of England in the years to come.”