Government approves the nomination of Ambassadors

On the recommendation of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin TD, the Government today approved 17 Ambassadorial nominations. These appointments will take place during 2025, subject to agreement by the receiving States.

Commenting on the nominations, the Tánaiste said:

“I know that those nominated as Ambassadors will represent Ireland with great distinction as they work to support Irish citizens and to advance Ireland’s interests and values around the world.

“The Government continues to strengthen Ireland’s global presence and influence, building new partnerships and amplifying our voice in the world. The nominations that I’ve brought to Government today include Ambassadorial appointments in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova. These are positions in new Embassies that will be opened under the Global Ireland programme, representing a clear scaling up of our engagement in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood.”

Notes for Editors:

All Ambassadorial level nominations are subject to the agreement of the receiving State and therefore in any reporting should be presented as nominations.

Global Ireland 2025 is a whole-of-government strategy that aims to double Ireland’s global footprint and influence in the period 2018 to 2025.

Ireland’s diplomatic network comprises 100 missions across the world. To date, under the Global Ireland Strategy, 22 new missions have opened. During 2025 and 2026, a further five new diplomatic missions will open: Embassies in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova, and Consulates General in Malaga and Melbourne.

With the nominations announced today, the leadership of Ireland’s diplomatic missions will be at gender parity across our global network: 50% female and 50% male.

The Ambassadorial nominations approved by the Government today are as follows:

Multilateral

OSCE Vienna

Mr Brian Flynn, currently Deputy Political Director, to be Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Africa

Uganda

Ms Margaret Gaynor, currently Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland to Tanzania, to be Ambassador to Uganda.

Zambia

Mr Aidan Fitzpatrick, currently Ambassador to Sierra Leone, to be Ambassador to Zambia.

Americas

Colombia

Mr Cyril Brennan, currently Director in Political Division, to be Ambassador to Colombia.

Asia-Pacific

Indonesia

Ms Sharon Lennon, currently Head of Office to the Caribbean, to be Ambassador to Indonesia.

Europe

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr Adrian Farrell, currently Ambassador to Slovenia, to be Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Cyprus

Ms Sarah Hamilton, currently Deputy Director in Global Ireland and Economic Division, to be Ambassador to Cyprus.

Denmark

Mr Kyle O’Sullivan, currently Director in Development Cooperation and Africa Division, to be Ambassador to Denmark.

Italy

Ms Elizabeth McCullough, currently Ambassador to Denmark, to be Ambassador to Italy.

Latvia

Ms Marcella Smyth, currently Consul General in Los Angeles, to be Ambassador to Latvia.

Moldova

Mr Myles Geiran, currently Deputy Director in Development Cooperation and Africa Division, to be Ambassador to Moldova.

Serbia

Mr Kevin Colgan, currently Ambassador to Uganda, to be Ambassador to Serbia.

Slovak Republic

Mr Ian Devine, currently Deputy Director in Political Division, to be Ambassador to the Slovak Republic.

Slovenia

Ms Caroline Phelan, currently Deputy Director in Development Cooperation and Africa Division, to be Ambassador to Slovenia.

Spain

Mr Brian Glynn, currently on secondment at the European External Action Service, to be Ambassador to Spain.

Middle East / North Africa

Egypt

Mr Aidan O’Hara, currently on secondment at the European External Action Service, to be Ambassador to Egypt.

Morocco

Ms Helena Nolan, currently Consul General in New York, to be Ambassador to Morocco.

Consul General appointments

Mr Gerald Angley, currently on secondment to the Department of Finance, to be Consul General in New York.

Ms Cáitlín Higgins Ní Chinnéide, currently Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland to Mexico, to be Consul General in Los Angeles.

Ms Amal Kaoua, currently Deputy Director in EU Division, to be Consul General in Lyon.

Mr Cillian O’Kelly, currently Deputy Director General in Strategy, Governance and Change Unit, to be Consul General in Manchester.

Mr Patrick Duffy, currently on secondment to Ibec, to be Consul General in Mumbai.

Ms Lorraine Christian, currently in the office of the Tánaiste, to be Consul General in Sydney.