Press release
Minister for Foreign Affairs launches Consulate General of Ireland for the North of England
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
On 1 October, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, will attend the official opening, in Manchester, of the Consulate General of Ireland for the North of England.
Ireland’s newest diplomatic mission will represent Irish interests in England’s northeast, the northwest, and Yorkshire and the Humber. Its establishment reflects the government’s commitment to developing the British-Irish relationship and will strengthen the political, commercial, community and cultural ties between Ireland and the North of England. The Consulate opening is also part of the Global Ireland 2025 programme for doubling Ireland’s international impact.
On the occasion of the launch, Minister Coveney said:
"The establishment of the Consulate, along with opening of an Enterprise Ireland office two years ago, is a physical testament to the importance that the Irish Government places on the relationship with the North of England, and to our ambition for the British-Irish bilateral relationship.
"I am delighted to be marking this major step forward with our new Consul General, Sarah Mangan, and with partners such as the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Steve Rotheram, and Wendy Morton MP, Minister for Europe and Americas at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
"The links between Ireland and this part of the world are profound, and uplifting, and have been built over generations. There are few facets of life where connections cannot be found and my hope is that with the opening of this new diplomatic mission we will strengthen existing partnerships, and forge new ones, across every sector and area of activity."
As part of the launch, Minister Coveney will chair a business roundtable discussion, looking at opportunities for Irish businesses in the region, before hosting a reception at the Manchester Art Gallery, where he will meet with representatives of the Irish business and cultural community as well as other key contacts. The Minister will then travel to Liverpool for a community engagement at the Liverpool Irish Centre.
In his meetings with Mayor Burnham, Mayor Rotheram and Minister Morton, Minister Coveney will discuss the Ireland-North of England relationship, and developments, cooperation and opportunities in the community, economic, trade and cultural sectors.
Minister Coveney will also support planning for an official visit to Ireland that Mayor Burnham and Mayor Rotheram will lead in early 2022 to drive forward our partnerships.
The Consulate General of Ireland for the North of England is located in Manchester city centre. The diplomatic mission opened for operations on 1 July 2021, in temporary offices. It will work alongside and in partnership with the Manchester office of Enterprise Ireland, which was established in April 2019 to support the growth of Irish businesses and trade.
Work has begun to locate a permanent office space which will house both the Consulate and Enterprise Ireland office in an Ireland House arrangement, and will facilitate Team Ireland’s collective work to advance Ireland’s commercial and promotional interests in the North of England.
The new Consul General, Sarah Mangan, is supported by Vice Consul Carina O’Brien. They, along with the head of Enterprise Ireland’s Manchester office, Laura Brocklebank, will work to strengthen old partnerships and forge new ones across all sectors—business, education, politics, culture, sport, and community.
The new Consulate General demonstrates the Irish Government’s commitment to strengthening the British-Irish relationship following the UK’s departure from the European Union. It also forms part of a wider programme of investment in Ireland’s footprint in Great Britain in recent years, including an enhanced whole-of-government presence in London, the re-opening of the Consulate General in Cardiff in 2019, and the establishment of an Enterprise Office in Manchester in the same year.
While in its temporary premises, the new Consulate General will not provide direct consular services to the public. Embassy of Ireland in London will continue to provide most consular services to Irish citizens in the North of England, including passport and visa services. Please see the Embassy London website for more information.