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2015 News & Events

November 2015 

J1 Summer Work and Travel Programme

20 November 2015

J1 Summer Work and Travel Programme – employment opportunities for Irish Summer student.

Visit by President and Sabina Higgins to the US West Coast

20 November 2015

President Higgins, accompanied by his wife, Sabina Higgins visited the US West Coast from 21 – 29 October, taking in Seattle, San Francisco and Sacramento.  The official trip also included visits to both Microsoft in Redmond and Google in Mountain View, where the President had an opportunity to meet with significant numbers of Irish staff members.  

Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD on Summer J1 Programme

12 November 2015

The US sponsoring bodies managing the great majority of Irish participants in the United States Summer Work Travel Programme (known as the J1 programme) have made public plans to introduce a requirement for applicants from countries in the Visa Waiver Programme, which includes Ireland, to pre-arrange jobs as part of their Summer 2016 J1 applications.

White House Tours are currently closed

2 November 2015

Please be aware that we have received a notification that White House tours for international visitors, including Irish citizens, are currently closed until 19 November 2015.

Tours will resume again for a short period and will then be temporarily suspended again for the Thanksgiving holiday season.

For more detailed information on the procedure involved, please visit the official White House website.


October 2015

Tribute by President Higgins to the First Responders and Volunteers of Berkeley

28 October 2015

Remarks by Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland at a Tribute to the First Responders and Volunteers of Berkeley.

Address by President Higgins at University of California, Berkeley entitled "Ending Global Hunger, Eliminating Poverty - Is this Possible?

27th October 2015

President Higgins continued his eight-day visit to the West Coast of the United States with an adress at the University of California, Berkeley, on the topic of Global Hunger

President Michael D. Higgins on official visit to West Coast, United States

21 October 2015

President Higgins will make an official eight-day visit to the West Coast of the United States from Wednesday 21st to Thursday 29th October. While the main focus of the visit will be on the cities of Seattle and San Francisco, the schedule will include visits to both Microsoft in Redmond and Google in Mountain View, where the President looks forward to meeting with a significant number of Irish staff members.

Culture Ireland launches its international culture programme

3 October 2015

On Saturday 3 October, Culture Ireland launched its international culture programme, entitled, "I am Ireland" which forms part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. The launch provided details on the year-long international programme of cultural events, including in the US, to commemorate the events of the 1916 Rising, to reflect on our achievements over the last 100 years and to look forward to Ireland's future.

Minister Nash commences design feasibility study in Chicago as part of ID2015

1 October 2015

Exhibition of Irish architecture launched at inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial


September 2015

Visit by Minister Flanagan to Washington

30 September 2015

On Wednesday 30 September, Minister Charlie Flanagan visited Washington for a full programme of meetings with key Democratic and Republican contacts on Capitol Hill, senior figures in the US Administration and other influential Irish-American contacts.

'The European Union - Towards a Discourse of Reconnection, Renewal and Hope’

28 September 2015

Ladies and gentlemen, may I begin by thanking Dr. Gráinne de Burca, Director of the Jean Monnet Center for Regional and International Economic Law and Justice here at your university for her invitation to give the Annual Emile Nöel Lecture.  It is an honour to deliver the lecture in honour of a great European, and as part of a sequence of lectures that have acquired a prestigious reputation. 

Visit by Minister Flanagan to New York and Washington

27 September - 1 October 2015

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan T.D., today begins a five-day visit to the United States during which he will address the UN General Assembly and meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in New York. The Minister will also meet in Washington with a range of senior US political contacts with whom latest developments in Northern Ireland will be the main focus.

Visit by An Taoiseach to New York and Connecticut

24-25 September 2015

On 24 September, the Taoiseach had a number of engagements in Connecticut.  He  travelled to Quinnnipiac University where he visited the Great Hunger Museum and was presented with  an honorary degree of humane letters. On 25 September, the Taoiseach addressed the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of Ireland.  

Address by An Taoiseach at Quinnipiac University for Honorary Degree Conferral

24 September 2015

Governor, Dr Lahey, Ambassador, Consul General, Ladies and Gentlemen, good afternoon to you all. I’m delighted to be here, thank you for inviting me. John Lahey, the journey to be here on this beautiful day in the Connecticut Fall, started a long time ago. But you kept the faith and considerable patience and good humour, and here we are.

Minister Harris promotes Irish International Financial Services Sector on the East Coast

15-18 September 2015

Minister Simon Harris visited New York and Boston to promote stronger business links in International Financial Services. The Irish Government's International Services Strategy IFS2020 aims to build on Ireland’s strengths in talent, technology, innovation and excellent client service, and to highlight all that Ireland has to offer as a location for specialist international financial services.

Minister Coveney launches Irish Beef in Mid-West US market

23 September 2015

From 8-9 September, Minister Coveney visited Chicago to promote Irish beef following its re-entry to the US market this year.

President Higgins on Official Visit to the United States, 24-28 September 2015

22 September 2015

President Higgins departs Dublin for New York on Thursday 24th September on an official visit to the United States.

The John F Kennedy Center to host Irish Arts Festival in 2016

15 September 2015

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces a three-Week International Festival of Theater, Music, Dance, Literature and more. The Kennedy Center will host an open playwriting challenge & selected plays will be staged as readings during Festival from May 17 to June 5, 2016. 

Statement by Minister Fitzgerald on the Migration Crisis

14 September 2015

The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council today formally adopted the decision to relocate 40,000 people in need of international protection. Minister Fitzgerald stated that Ireland will immediately move to implement the measure and she would expect a significant number of the 600 applicants to be relocated to Ireland within the next few months.


July 2015

Team Ireland at the Special Olympics

30 July 2015

Ambassador Anne Anderson attended the Special Olympics ceremony in Los Angeles with Irish Consul General Philip Grant and Vice Consul Kevin Byrne who represent Ireland in the Western United States. The Irish team consists of 128 members, 40 coaches. Actor Colin Farrell, former athlete John Treacy, who had won an Olympic silver medal at that same stadium 31 years ago and Ms. Claudine Keane joined the athletes at the opening ceremony for the walk out into the main stadium.  

Address by Ambassador Anderson to the Washington Ireland Program Class of 2015

27 July 2015

It is always a special moment, at this point of summer, to celebrate the Washington Ireland Program and to convey our warmest wishes to this year’s participants. The Program is now in its 21st year.  Over 500 alumni are making their mark across all walks of Irish society, in all parts of our island and further afield.  WIP is a wonderful programme, whose promise is being richly fulfilled.


June 2015

The 1916 Rising: Spotlight on role of the “exiled children in America”

29 June 2015

Op Ed by Minister Charlie Flanagan, TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, published in Irish Central.

Visit to Alaska by Ambassador Anderson

22-27 June 2015

The Ambassador’s recent visit to Alaska highlighted the connections that exist between Ireland and Alaska and confirmed areas of mutual interest.

Letter to the editor of the New York Times from Ambassador Anne Anderson

17 June 2015

Statement by Minister Flanagan on Berkeley Tragedy

17 June 2015

Book of Condolence for Berkeley Tragedy

17 June 2015

Members of the public are invited to sign a book of condolence for the victims of the Berkeley tragedy at the Embassy of Ireland, 2234 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington DC 20008 from tomorrow morning, Wednesday 17 June.

The book will be available for signature on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 June from 10 am to noon, and from 2pm to 4.00 pm on both days.

A celebration of Bloomsday and YeatsDay

16 June 2015

To celebrate two of Ireland’s literary giants, the Embassy of Ireland hosted events in early June 2015 in Washington for Bloomsday, honouring James Joyce’s novel Ulysses, and Yeatsday, which marked the 150th anniversary of William Butler Yeats’ birth. It was an opportunity to mark these two occasions together and celebrate two great writers.

Embassy event to celebrate Bloomsday & Yeatsday

16 June 2015

On Tuesday 16 June, the Embassy of Ireland will host a public lunchtime event at Dupont Circle to celebrate two of Ireland’s greatest writers, W.B. Yeats and James Joyce.   The open air concert will take place from 12.30 to 1.30pm featuring music and readings from the works of both Joyce and Yeats.  

Bloomsday & Yeatsday to be celebrated

10 June 2015

The Embassy of Ireland is celebrating Bloomsday & Yeatsday on Washington DC’s DuPont Circle Park from 12.30pm to 1.30pm on Tuesday 16 June. Come and enjoy music and readings from the works of two of Ireland’s greatest writers. Bring a picnic and enjoy the sunshine as we recreate the atmosphere of 1900s Dublin, and remember, it is traditional to dress in the style of the early 1900s on Bloomsday!

Ambassador Anne Anderson Among 25 Award Winners of Ireland’s Most Powerful Women

11 June 2015

650 people attended the celebrations to mark the Women’s Executive Network’s Ireland’s Most Powerful Women: Top 25 Awards in Dublin. Female leaders who won or spoke at the event include: Her Excellency, The Irish Ambassador to the US, Anne Anderson; Ulster Bank NI’s Head, Ellvena Graham; Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan; Vodafone Ireland’s Anne O’Leary. The Women’s Executive Network hosted both a Leadership Summit and an Awards Gala to celebrate the Winners and allow attendees to learn from the experience and knowledge of these successful women. 

Global Irish Civic Forum, Dublin

3-4 June 2015

The first ever Global Irish Civic Forum will take place in Dublin Castle on 3-4 June 2015. The Forum will bring together representatives of over 140 organisations working with the Irish diaspora globally. The Forum will allow these organisations to share their experience and will also provide an opportunity to recognise the work they undertake on a daily basis to support Irish emigrants abroad as they make new lives often far from home

J1 Travel Advice Guide

2 June 2015

Minister for the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan TD recently launched a new J1 Guide‌ for those visiting the USA on a J1 visa this Summer. The guide was produced by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and was supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The guide contains helpful advice on insurance, legal issues, money, accommodation, ID, personal safety and more. 


May 2015

15 May 2015

Successful EU Open House

The 9th annual EU Open House took place on 9 May 2015 in Washington.  All European Union Embassies and the EU Delegation were open to the public.  It is an opportunity to experience the best of European culture without the jet lag!

11 May 2015

Ambassador Anne Anderson with Barbra Streisand in Washington DC

The Ambassador, Anne Anderson is delighted that Barbra Streisand really liked the Irish soda bread! You too can enjoy it. Here is the recipe!


March 2015

Taoiseach was in Washington for St. Patrick's Day: Focus was on Jobs, Trade, and Investment

27 March 2015

The Taoiseach was in Washington from Monday 16 - Wednesday 18 March for St. Patrick's Day.

Taoiseach travels to US for St. Patrick’s Day programme with focus on jobs, trade and investment

13 March 2015

The Taoiseach begins his St. Patrick’s Day visit today, with a visit to Atlanta – the first stop on a three-city programme in the US focused on jobs, trade and investment.

Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy launched

04 March 2015

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD together with An Tánaiste, Joan Burton TD, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, and Minister of State for Diaspora Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan TD have launched Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy.

Global Irish is the first clear statement of the Government’s policy on the diaspora. The policy recognises the unique and important relationship between Ireland and its diaspora and sets out actions to nurture and develop this relationship, and to engage the diaspora.


February 2015

Minister Coveney Visits Washington DC for Irish Beef Launch

10 February 2015

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney visited Washington DC on Tuesday 10 February to mark the relaunch of Irish beef in the US market. Ireland is the first EU country to export beef to the US in over 15 years. While in Washington, the Minister delivered speeches at both the World Bank and the School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University.


January 2015

Minister Simon Coveney Announces Access for Irish Beef to U.S. Market

05 January 2015

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Simon Coveney T.D. has today announced that Ireland has secured beef access to the valuable U.S. market, becoming the first E.U. member state to achieve this. The news follows a successful inspection by the U.S. authorities of Ireland’s beef production systems in July 2014. The full text of Minister Coveney’s announcement is available at http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/press/pressreleases/2015/january/title,79633,en.html.

President Michael D. Higgins on official visit to West Coast, United States