Two new honorary consuls of Ireland have been appointed in Canada during a visit this week by Tánaiste Micheál Martin.
Mr. Martin visited Canada as part of the Irish government’s global St. Patrick’s Program and he made the announcements.
Colm O’Carroll has been appointed as Honorary Consul to Edmonton and Alberta, North of Red Deer, and Bryan O’Gallagher has been appointed as Honorary Consul to Quebec.
Mr. Martin said that these appointments are “a sign of the enduring deep bonds our two countries share and the ongoing importance of our social, cultural and economic links with Canada.”
“I am confident that Mr. O’Carroll in Edmonton and Mr. O’Gallagher in Quebec (City) will strengthen Ireland’s presence here. First and foremost, in providing important consular services to Irish citizens here, but also in strengthening trade links, and promoting Irish heritage and culture.”
“I would also like to pay tribute to our previous Honorary Consuls in Edmonton, Ms. Bridget (Doodie) Cahill, and in Québec, Dr. Michael Kenneally, who both did exemplary work.”
Mr. O’Carroll was born in Cork and emigrated to Canada in 1981. He founded Epsilon Chemicals Ltd. with his wife Lynda in 1990. He has remained closely tied to Ireland and is an active member of the Irish diaspora. In 1994, he became a member of the national board of the Ireland Fund of Canada, where he remained until 2006.
On his appointment as Honorary Consul to Quebec, Mr O’Gallagher said: “The bonds between Quebec and Ireland have been strong for centuries. It is an honour to have the opportunity to represent Ireland in Quebec where my family have long worked to foster lasting relationships between those of us with Irish roots and other Quebecers and I am excited to formally continue this tradition.”
Mr. O’Gallagher, who is a lawyer, is well-established in the Irish community in Quebec City and the current Chair of Irish Heritage Quebec. His family came to Canada during the Famine and were instrumental in setting up Grosse-Ile and ensuring it remained an Irish memorial in Canada to victims of the Famine.
In a social media post about Mr. O’Gallagher’s appointment, Irish Heritage Quebec said, “Anyone researching the story of the Irish in Quebec City will keep coming across references to the patriarchs, Jeremiah and Frank Gallagher, to Jeremiah’s son Dermot O’Gallagher, and his daughter Marianna O’Gallagher, foundress of Irish Heritage Quebec.”
In addition to the Irish Embassy in Ottawa, Ireland has formal Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver. There are currently Honorary Consuls in St. John’s, Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton and Quebec City.
Honorary consuls are appointed to provide consular services and assistance to Irish citizens in a specific geographical area. They don’t receive a salary.
