A new Irish consulate for Atlanta, the first new consulate in North America by the Irish government since 1933, is set to be announced.

Paul Gleeson, a member of the Anglo-Irish Division in the Department of Foreign Affairs, is set to take up the position as consul there by the fall of this year, sources tell Irishcentral.com.

Despite massive budget cuts and continuing economic gloom in Ireland, the new consulate will go ahead because of a belief that Atlanta, as the gateway to the south, offers huge opportunity for Ireland both economically and culturally.

There is a vibrant Irish community there, and an Irish Consul will help blend together the different groups and create a more cohesive community structure.

The last consulate created in North America was in San Francisco in 1933.