Welcome to the December edition of the Consulate’s newsletter and our last one for 2022.

In this issue, you can check out what the Consulate has been up to in November and December and hear more about some of our plans for 2023. Keep an eye on our social media channels for our 2022 highlight reel! 

In November, we welcomed Michael McGrath, Director General, EU and Financial Services at the Department of Finance, to Frankfurt to kick off the Consulate’s EU50 events series, marking 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership.

The Consulate was delighted to accompany Ireland’s Ambassador’s to Germany, Dr. Nicholas O’Brien, on his visit to Saarland and also the Minister for Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., on his recent visit to Neuwied in Rhineland-Palatinate.

We also continued with our events marking 100 years since the publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses, with a workshop at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the opening of our travelling Joyce exhibition in Marburg.

Follow us on our social media channels to keep up with our latest travel advice, news and events. If you know anyone with an interest in Ireland, please encourage them to sign up for our monthly newsletter, by sending us an email here.

Finally, we would like to thank everyone who has supported and worked with the Consulate throughout 2022. We hope you will all have a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2023 for another busy year.

Kind regards,

Anne-Marie, Patrick, Martina and Rebecca
Consulate General of Ireland, Frankfurt

EU50: The Future of the European Financial Sector, 10 November

The Consulate was delighted to partner with Enterprise Ireland to bring together a panel of experts to reflect on ‘The Future of the European Financial Sector’.

This event marked the first of a series of events we will be organising to mark 50 years of Ireland’s membership of the European Union. On the night there were contributions from Michael McGrath, Director General, EU and Financial Services at the Department of Finance, Elisabeth Weisenhorn, CEO, Portikus Investment and Board Member, DWS Investment and Franziska Weisbach, Frankfurt-based founder of Fine Universe.

We were also delighted to have Kevin O'Leary, Director – Transaction Solutions with Fenergo and David Hughes, Chief Commercial Officer with Transfermate join the event to discuss how their respective innovative Know Your Customer/Anti-Money Laundering technology and payments solutions can support European banks and businesses in achieving efficiencies and enhancing their competitiveness.

Keltenwelt am Glauberg Visit with Hessen Europe Minister Lucia Puttrich, 11 November    

The Consulate team accompanied Hessen Minister for Federal and European Affairs Lucia Puttrich on a visit to 'Keltenwelt am Glauberg', a museum, research centre and archaeological park built at the site of a large Celtic settlement, on 11 November.

In recent years, researchers from Ireland's Discovery Programme assisted with the digital scanning of the Celtic prince found near the Glauberg, as part of a multinational EU project called 'ArchaeoLandscapes Europe'.  The scans were used to create 25 replica 'princes' that have toured Hessen in the years since, including as part of the Year of the Celts in Hessen this year.

We were very interested to learn more about the historical links between Ireland and Hesse, and the influence of the Hessen Celts on Irish art, literature, language and culture, and to emphasise the shared European heritage of Ireland and Germany.

Ulysses100 Workshop with Áine Stapleton & Professor John McCourt, 11 November

We were delighted to welcome Irish filmmaker and choreographer Áine Stapleton and leading international joycean scholar Professor John McCourt to the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz for a workshop on Lucia and James Joyce lives and legacies as part of our #Ulysses100 celebrations.

In her workshop Áine Stapleton provided an introduction to Lucia Joyce, daughter of James Joyce, before a screening of her critically acclaimed film ‘Horrible Creature’. The workshop concluded with a thought-provoking lecture by Professor John McCourt on the topic of 'Who's he when he's at home? Joyce's changing status in Ireland'.

We would like to thank our good friends in the Scotland Hub and the Department of English and Linguistics, along with the Centre for Continuing Education at the Johannes Gutenberg University, for partnering with us on this workshop.

Visit of Ambassador O'Brien to Saarland, 16 November

Ambassador O'Brien travelled to Saarbrücken on 16 November for a number of meetings. During this visit, the Ambassador met with Minister President of Saarland Anke Rehlinger, Finance Minister Jakob von Weizsäcker, and Lord Mayor of Saarbruecken Uwe Conradt. 

He also visited the University of Saarland where he was welcomed by Prof Cornelius Koenig, Vice President for Europe and Internationalisation and the professors and teachers from the University's Irish Studies Group.  

International James Joyce Exhibition in Marburg, 17 November

As part of our James Joyce travelling exhibition tour, the Consulate travelled to the Philipps University Marburg on the 17 November.

The exhibition was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Marburg, Dr. Thomas Spies, and Deputy Consul General, Patrick McDonagh. We were delighted to have Dr. Ronan Crowley, Vice President and President-Elect of the International James Joyce Foundation, attend the opening and deliver a lecture on ‘Ulysses in Europe’. There was also live Irish music performed throughout the evening by ‘Double Topp’.

The exhibition will be on display at the university until the 15 January.

EU50 Event in Marburg: ‘Europe at a Crossroads: German and Irish Reflections on Peace and Our Shared European Future’, 21 November

The Consulate partnered with NUI Maynooth and the Philipps University Marburg on an event to mark EU50 in Marburg on 21 November. The event focused on the topic of ‘Europe at a Crossroads: German and Irish Reflections on Peace and Our Shared European Future’ and was opened by Professor Dr. Evelyn Korn, Vice President of the Philips University of Marburg.

Consul General Anne-Marie Flynn welcomed guests on behalf of the Consulate, before handing over to panel of academics from the National University of Ireland Maynooth and Philipps University to discuss how the EU has positively influenced Ireland’s political, economic and social development over the past 50 years and commitment to being part of shaping a strong shared European future.

Meeting with Deputy Minister President Katharina Binz, Rhineland-Palatinate, 30 November

Consul General Anne-Marie Flynn and Deputy Consul General Patrick McDonagh travelled to Mainz on 30 November to meet with the Deputy Minister President and Minister for Families, Women, Culture and Integration in Rhineland-Palatinate, Katherina Binz, and State Secretary Professor Dr. Juergen Hardeck.

The meeting provided a great opportunity to discuss opportunities for potential future collaboration around a broad range of issues, including Irish culture, EU50, as well as Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, all of which Minister Binz was very enthusiastic about.

Irish Community and Partners Christmas Celebration, 01 December

We were delighted to get together with our wonderful Irish community and partners on 1 December to round off a busy and successful year. Thank you to everyone who came along – a great night was had by all! The Consulate is very grateful for all your support provided throughout 2022 and we look forward to another year of fruitful cooperation together in 2023.

Visit by students from St Peter's College Dunboyne, 12 December

The Consulate was thrilled to welcome the 6^th year German Leaving Certificate students from St Peter's College to Frankfurt on 12 December. Consul General Anne-Marie Flynn gave a presentation on German-Irish relations and the work of the Consulate and spoke to the students about their interest in Germany and the German language. 

Book club

Our book club continued to meet in November and December despite the more noticeably cold weather. A huge thanks to those who joined us for a discussion of Emilie Pine’s Ruth & Pen in November and Seán Hewitt’s moving memoir All Down Darkness Wide in December.

While our book club is now finished for 2022, we are already planning for our Spring/Summer book club series and we would love to hear your recommendations for what books we should read. If you have a recommendation please send it to us before 22^nd December. We are particularly interested in Irish themed books or books by Irish authors.

Please send your book recommendations to us via email at eventsfrankfurt@dfa.ie.

#ToBeIrish

With the holiday season approaching, the #ToBeIrish initiative is working to forge meaningful links among the Irish diaspora across the world. Celebrating individuals, families, community organisations and businesses with Irish roots, To Be Irish aims to be a virtual hub for sharing the joy of being Irish at special moments throughout the year.

If you would like to explore some Irish-linked gift options ahead of Christmas, visit the #ToBeIrish initiative's gifting guide to see some exceptional businesses from every corner of the globe.

Upcoming Events

Save the Date St. Brigid’s Day, 1 February

To mark St. Brigid’s Day 2023, the Consulate General of Ireland, Frankfurt, will host an event on 1 February focused on the topic of Gender Equality in Europe: German and Irish experiences. Keep an eye on our social media channels for further information in the New Year.

 Consulate General of Ireland, Frankfurt
Signature OpernTurm

Bockenheimer Landstr. 2-4
60306 Frankfurt am Main

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