Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney will attend the official opening of the Consulate General of Ireland for the North of England in Manchester on Friday.
The Consulate is to represent Irish interests in England’s northeast, the northwest, and Yorkshire and the Humber and will “reflect the Government’s commitment to developing the British-Irish relationship” as well as “strengthen the political, commercial, community and cultural ties between Ireland and the North of England.”
The Consulate opening is part of the Global Ireland 2025 programme for doubling Ireland’s international impact.
The establishment of the Consulate, along with opening of an Enterprise Ireland office two years ago, was "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," Mr Coveney said.
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“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,” he said.
The new Consul General will be Sarah Mangan, former first secretary at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
As part of the launch, Mr 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 representatives of the Irish business and cultural community.
The Minister will then travel to Liverpool for a community engagement at the Liverpool Irish Centre.