Ambassador Mulhall with the Coventry Lord Mayor and founders of the St Finbarr’s Sports and Social Club at the Cuimhne Cup Irish Fete on 22 July, Mulhall’s last public engagement. Photo credit: Gerry Molumby
HE Ambassador Daniel Mulhall has been with and part of the Irish community here in Britain since 2013. He arrived in September 2013 and before he had time to settle into the Embassy he was on the train to Liverpool to attend the Irish in Britain AGM and meet the community. From those first visits to community organisations right up to last week, Ambassador Mulhall has tirelessly travelled the country meeting the community and representing us in the press, media, business and political events. More than any other previous ambassador, Ambassador Mulhall has opened up the Irish embassy in London to the community and for the community with literary events, celebrations, discussions, celebrity and community occasions. He has steered and guided the community and represented the Irish government in Britain through the 2016 commemorations, the anniversary of the battle of the Somme and WW1, and then into Brexit. However, in the Ambassador’s own words, the highlight of his tenure in London was the visit of Uachtarán Michael D Higgins on the occasion of the first state visit of an Irish President to Britain.
Before leaving Britain Ambassador Mulhall was honoured with an honorary fellowship from the University of Liverpool and was awarded the freedom of the city of London. I am sure many of us in the community and in our organisations, have also honoured Ambassador Mulhall for his service to the community and we all wish him well for the future.
Ambassador Mulhall is currently enjoying some well–deserved time off back in his home county of Waterford but he will shortly be travelling to Washington to take up his new posting as Ambassador there. Like his time in London I am sure it will be both challenging and enjoyable, if it even comes close to his achievements here in Britain it will certainly be memorable.
Patrick Morrison, Chair of Irish in Britain
Cathaoirleach
See an article in the Guardian about Dan Mulhall’s stance on Brexit.