The Embassy’s History

The Embassy’s History

Ireland and India recognised each other in 1947, upon Indian independence. India opened an embassy in Ireland in 1951, and Ireland opened an Embassy in India in 1964.  Since December 2012, the Embassy has been located in C-17 Malcha Marg, in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. It had previously been located in Lodi Road and Jor Bagh. 

There have been fourteen Ambassadors since 1964 as follows:

• William Warnock: 1964-1967
• Valentin Iremonger: 1968-1972
• Denis A. Holmes: 1972-1976
• Francis A. Coffey: 1977-1980
• Bernard McHugh: 1981-1985
• Paul D. Dempsey: 1986-1990
• Margaret Hennessy: 1991-1994
• James Flavin: 1995-1998
• Philip McDonagh: 1999-2003
• Kieran Dowling: 2004-2008
• Kenneth Thompson: 2009-2012
• Feilim McLaughlin: 2012-2016
• Brian McElduff: 2016 – 2019
• Brendan Ward: 2019 - present

Over the decades, Ireland’s diplomatic presence in India has been strengthened. Ireland’s Consulate General in Mumbai was opened in 2019 and the Embassy also has Honorary Consulates in Bangalore, Chennai, and Kolkata. The Embassy is also accredited to Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.