Consul General Ó Caollaí to take up Dublin post
The Irish government recently announced that Consul General of Ireland Breandán Ó Caollaí will leave his position later this month following his promotion to Counsellor to the corporate services division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Ó Caollaí has served in Boston since August, 2013
His new role in Dublin will include overseeing security of Irish facilities and personnel across the globe and related issues. Ó Caollaí said: “I am proud and privileged to have served Ireland in Boston, Massachusetts and New England, the area of the U.S. with the strongest links to Ireland. It is politically, socially and economically an incredibly important connection for Ireland. We have developed good relations at the Consulate with Mayor Marty J. Walsh, Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and members of New England State and Congress delegations, as well as numerous other people eager to help Ireland.” He added that he was “very impressed” by the strength of Irish culture in Massachusetts, in the forms of Irish language, literature, theatre, Irish dancing and music, and that he was delighted to see such enthusiasm even from those without Irish heritage. He also wanted to thank all those including the IPC and the IIIC who work to improve the position of the undocumented Irish in our area.
“I have served in the Foreign Service since 1989 and held five different positions across the globe. Boston is the most interesting and exciting place that I have worked. I am particularly proud and happy that we found a lovely home in South Boston,” said Ó Caollaí. Fionnuala Quinlan, currently the Director of Press Relations at the DFAT has been announced as Ó Caollaí’s successor. Quinlan has held positions in the DFAT since 2009. Prior to that she worked as an Editor for Irish Examiner newspaper in Cork. It was also announced that Meg Laffan, a press officer at the DFAT, will succeed current Vice Consul Jillian O’Keefe.
The Charitable Irish Society will host an evening Charles River cruise on August 18 to bid farewell to Ó Caollaí. All are invited to attend the event which takes place at the CambridgeSide Galleria, 100 Cambridgeside Pl., Cambridge. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Hor D’oeuvres, cash bar. Tickets are $75. $4 validated parking at mall garage. Info & register at: CharitableIrishSociety.org. The Irish Cultural Centre in Canton will also host a farewell reception for Ó Caollaí this month.
Comments