In a groundbreaking move Ireland has appointed its first ever female ambassador to the U.S.
Ambassador Anne Anderson is currently the permanent representative of Ireland to the United Nations. Current ambassador to the U.S. Michael Collins will become Ambassador to Germany. David Donoghue becomes UN Ambassador.
Previously Anderson was Ireland’s ambassador to France. Anderson, a native of Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, joined the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs in 1972 and has held posts in various parts of the world, including Washington, D.C., Geneva and Brussels.
From 2001 to 2005, Anderson served as permanent representative to the European Union in Brussels, before which she was Ireland’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
There her responsibilities also included chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (1999-2000); vice president of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)(1997); and chair of the trade policy review body the World Trade Organization.
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Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree from University College Dublin, and a diploma in legal studies at Kings Inns, Dublin.
“I feel a tremendous sense of privilege in representing Ireland abroad. At the UN, there is real respect for what we stand for,” Anderson says.
“Ireland is seen as a country that struggled, survived, prospered, and understands the imperative to give back. We are a strong and principled voice on all the big issues — development, disarmament, human rights. I am proud to sit behind the Irish nameplate.”
Brendán O Caollai has been appointed Consul General in Boston. Previously O Caollai was Deputy Consul General in New York and was joint head of the International Fund for Ireland at the Department of Foreign Affairs. He is well known in Irish American circles.
Meanwhile, Philip Grant has been appointed Consul General in San Francisco.
4 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.cillowen | Jan 16, 2013, 05:30 PM EST
wonder if this one is like the two Maries who made out like bandits before her. Wonder if she's aware of Ireland's bad old days like - Cromwell drove Irish men and women, as threats to his new government, from their homes into the relatively barren and inhospitable province of Connaught. He created a system of arresting people for terribly minor infractions and forcing them onto ships headed to the Caribbean, providing the British planters there with "indentured laborers". Often times they atually just 'captured' the Irish for no reason at all. Did you know about Irish slavery? It seems that Irish slavery has escaped many texts, and tcherefore the entire education of many. Surprised to learn that there were Irish Slaves in the Caribbean?
Ms.Gail | Jan 16, 2013, 02:47 PM EST
Anne Anderson, congratulations and welcome to our country (outside the UN). Wishing you every success and a wonderful experience.
Dompedro | Jan 16, 2013, 01:22 PM EST
headline should read: "Ireland appoints First Viking ambassador to US"
Rachelgaffney | Jan 16, 2013, 11:17 AM EST
Many congratulations. I am thrilled. I wish her every success.