New Irish Ambassador to Spain

October 2014.  David Cooney is the New Irish Ambassador to Spain, outgoing Secretary-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Replacing Mr. Justin Harman.


Queridos amigos,

Es un placer y un privilegio asumir el cargo de Embajador de Irlanda aquí en España.  En las próximas semanas espero poder presentar mis Credenciales a Su Majestad El Rey Felipe VI, y estoy deseando explorar la intensa y variada gama de eslabones que unen a Irlanda con este importante y fascinante país.

En muchos sentidos, España e Irlanda disfrutan de una relación única y excepcional cuyo alcance se extiende desde las muy tempranas migraciones prehistóricas desde el norte de España hacia Irlanda, hasta los vibrantes lazos que nos unen en la actualidad.  Ciertamente, hace siglos que existe un flujo regular de visitantes irlandeses a las costas españolas, desde los primeros peregrinos al Camino de Santiago hasta la Huida de los Condes en los siglos diecisiete y dieciocho.  Hoy en día, la amistad entre nuestros dos pueblos es más entrañable que nunca, con una media de 1,3 millones de visitantes irlandeses a España cada año.  Nuestras relaciones comerciales también siguen creciendo y representan actualmente más de siete mil millones de euros, haciendo de este país nuestro sexto mercado de exportación más importante. Nuestros dos países se han beneficiado enormemente por su pertenencia a la Unión Europea, y seguirán trabajando juntos y con los demás estados miembros para asegurar una recuperación económica sostenible en ambos países y en toda la Unión. Irlanda también recibe a muchos visitantes españoles, incluyendo miles de estudiantes de inglés que añaden brillo y color al verano irlandés.

Aunque promocionar las relaciones políticas y comerciales es de enorme importancia para nosotros,  somos muy conscientes de que los lazos que nos unen van mucho más allá.  La Embajada seguirá desarrollando un interesante programa para celebrar nuestras relaciones culturales, y habrá diversas actividades a lo largo de los próximos meses, cuyos detalles figuran a continuación:

·       La undécima edición del Cáceres Irish Fleadh tendrá lugar este año del 31 de octubre al 2 de noviembre, con un excelente elenco que incluye Fullset, Matt & Jackie, Sheela Ní Gig y Böj.

·       Como muchos de vosotros sabréis, John Banville ha ganado el prestigioso Premio Príncipe de Asturias de las Letras, galardón que recibirá en Oviedo el próximo 24 de octubre.  Será grato para nosotros darle la bienvenida a España, país con el que John tiene fuertes lazos.

·       El actor y dramaturgo irlandés, Denis Rafter, representará en solitario su nueva función sobre Oscar Wilde en el Teatro Español de Madrid entre el 27 de noviembre y el 7 de diciembre.  El título de la función es Beloved Sinner y trata de los últimos días de la vida de Wilde, antes de su fallecimiento in 1900.

·       La Sociedad Bloomsday de Madrid busca entusiastas de Joyce para asistir y participar en lecturas que tendrán lugar el tercer jueves de cada mes de 19.00 a 21.00 horas en el Círculo Catalán de Madrid, Plaza de España 6.  Están especialmente interesados en encontrar miembros de la comunidad irlandesa  dispuestos a leer en inglés.  La primera lectura tendrá lugar el jueves, 30 de octubre.

·       Los aficionados a Joyce en  Barcelona también tendrán su oportunidad de celebrar el centenario de “Dubliners” en un evento especial en la Casa de la Paraula en noviembre.  Están previstas lecturas dramatizadas y música – más adelante os haremos llegar información adicional sobre este acontecimiento.

·       El nuevo libro de poemas del conocido poeta y escritor irlandés, John Liddy, será presentado en Madrid el próximo 20 de octubre.  Habrá más información próximamente.

·       Estamos encantados de informaros de la próxima presentación del libro John Ford en Inishfree.  La homérica historia de ‘El Hombre Tranquilo’ 1933-1952 por Arturo Seguro Fernández, que está prevista tenga lugar en Madrid este mes.  Pronto os enviaremos más información al respecto.

·       Por último, el festival de cine corto de Alcalá de Henares, Alcine, exhibirá diversas películas irlandesas este año.  El festival tiene lugar del 7 al 14 de noviembre.

Espero tener la oportunidad de conoceros en alguno de estos eventos.

Estoy muy interesado en mantenerme en contacto con la comunidad irlandesa y los amigos de Irlanda en España; si queréis que os añadamos al mailing de la Embajada para recibir información sobre eventos e iniciativas, no dudéis en poneros en contacto con nosotros.  Espero trabajar en estrecha colaboración con muchos de vosotros, y estamos muy agradecidos por vuestra contribución yfeedback sobre nuestra labor.

Un saludo muy cordial, le gach dea-ghui!

David Cooney
Embajador de Irlanda


Dear friends,

It is a pleasure and a privilege to take up the role of Ambassador of Ireland here in Spain.  I look forward to presenting my credentials to His Majesty King Felipe VI in the coming weeks and to exploring the range and depth of Ireland’s strong and varied ties with this fascinating and important country. 

In many ways, Ireland and Spain enjoy a particularly unique and special relationship, stretching from the very earliest prehistoric migrations to Ireland from Spain’s northern coast, up to the vibrant and contemporary ties of the present day.  Indeed, there has long been a steady flow of Irish visitors to Spanish shores, from the early pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, through to the Flight of the Earls in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.  Today, the friendship between the peoples of Ireland and Spain is warmer than ever, with Irish people making some 1.3 million visits to Spain each year. Our trade links also continue to grow and is now valued at over €7 billion, making this country Ireland’s sixth largest export market.    Ireland also welcomes many Spanish visitors, including thousands of English-language students who add to the brightness of the Irish summer.

Our two countries have also benefitted enormously from our common membership of the European Union and will continue to work together and with our fellow Member States to ensure a sustainable economic recovery in both countries and in the Union as a whole.

While promoting political and economic relations is a key priority for us, we are always conscious that the links that bind us consist of much more than this.  The Embassy will therefore continue to develop an exciting programme of events to celebrate Irish and Spanish cultural links. There are a host of interesting activities of Irish interest taking place over the coming months, details of some of which are set out below: 

·       The 11th annual Cáceres Irish Fleadh will take place this year from 31 October – 2 November.  The excellent line-up for this year includes Fullset, Matt & Jackie, Sheela Ní Gig and Böj. 

·       As many of you will know, John Banville has won the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award for Literature, which he will be presented with on Friday 24 October in Oviedo.  We look forward to welcoming John back to Spain, a country with which he has strong ties. 

·       Irish actor and playwright, Denis Rafter, will be performing his new one-man show on Oscar Wilde at the Teatro Español in Madrid from 27 November to 7 December.   The show is entitled Beloved Sinner and deals with the last days of Wilde’s life before his death in 1900.  

·       Madrid’s Bloomsday Society are seeking Joyce enthusiasts to attend and participate in readings on the third Thursday of every month from 7.00 – 9.00 pm at the Circulo Catalán de Madrid, Plaza de España 6.  They are particularly keen to find members of the Irish community willing to read in English.  The first reading will take place on Thursday, 30 October.

·       Joyce aficionados in Barcelona will also have an opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of “Dubliners” at a special event at La Casa de la Paraula this November. Plans include dramatised readings and music – more information to follow!

·       Celebrated Irish poet and writer John Liddy’s new book The Secret Heart of Things, will be launched in Madrid on October 20. More information on this event will follow.

·       We are delighted to inform you of the upcoming presentation of John Ford en Inishfree. La homérica historia de 'El hombre tranquilo' 1933-1952 by Arturo Seguro Fernandez, due to take place in October in Madrid. Again, further information will follow in relation to this event. 

·       Finally, the Alcine short film festival in Alcala de Henares is set to feature several Irish films this year.   The festival takes place from 7 – 14 November. 
I look forward to meeting you at one of these occasions in the future.
More generally, I am very keen to keep in touch with the Irish community in Spain and with friends of Ireland in Spain – if you would like to be added to our Embassy mailing list for news of events and initiatives, please contact us.  I look forward to continuing to work with you closely, and we warmly welcome your input and feedback on our work.   
Warm regards, le gach dea-ghui!
David Cooney
Ambassador of Ireland






--------------------------------------------
Attention:
This e-mail is privileged and confidential.
If you are not the intended recipient please delete the message and notify the sender.
Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author.
This email was scanned by Ironport and has been certified virus free with the pattern file currently in use.
This however cannot guarantee that it does not contain malicious content.
--------------------------------------------
Tabhair aire:
Tá an r-phost seo faoi phribhléid agus faoi rún.
Mura tusa an duine a bhí beartaithe leis an teachtaireacht seo a fháil, scrios é le do thoil agus cuir an seoltóir ar an eolas.
Is leis an údar amháin aon dearcaí nó tuairimí a léirítear.
Scanadh an r-phost seo le Ironport agus deimhníodh go raibh sé saor ó víoras leis an bpatrúnchomhad atá in úsáid faoi láthair.
Ní féidir a ráthú leis seo áfach nach bhfuil ábhar mailíseach ann.
--------------------------------------------

Roger Cummiskey artroger@gmail.com

Attachments12:42 (12 minutes ago)
to Sam.Crowley, bcc: Alyona, bcc: Auli, bcc: Dolores, bcc: Elisabeth, bcc: Enrique, bcc: Juan, bcc: Meta, bcc: Philip, bcc: Richard, bcc: me
Mo cara, Sam


Firstly please convey our good wishes to the new Ambassador of Ireland to Spain, David Cooney. We wish him well in this appointment to beautiful Spain.

Secondly we will be running our 5th successive Bloomsday celebrations in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol again in 2015. 

The detailed program for 2015 will be written up nearer the time. This is a very popular event where participants are encouraged to read in their own language. In 2015 we will concentrate on chapters 2 and 5. Probably the only non alcoholic beverage Bloomsday event in the World! e could do with a reader in Irish.

Coming up in October we have a joint art exhibition under the AIA-artgroup.com banner in Fuengirola by AIA members Dolores and Roger Cummiskey. See attached. Hermosa Vida. Roger is el Presidente del AIA. This year we celebrate our 10th anniversary. There are three members from Dublin in this group.

In November the AIA will be exhibiting at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos in Estepona at the Over 50s Show - arranged by Dublin based company Senior Times. 08th and 09th November. Three irish Participants.

In November also the AIA with exhibit at the Museo Etnografico de Riogordo with three Dublin participants. See attached. Por Amor el Arte. 01-31 Nov.

In December Club Danes in Mijas Costa will host a solo exhibition by Irish artist Roger Cummiskey.

That´s about it for now. If the New Ambassador or one of his team are interested in doing an opening then please call me to arrange. 952 592 652 or 666 78 26 42. It is also a good reason for him to visit the Costa del Sol for the first time in hid new office!


We thank you for your publicity in the past and look forward to your support in the future.

Ps. I read my poem "Under Construction" at the opening of the Ireland Friendship Day in Mijas Pueblo when the previous Ambassador was represented by Caoimhe Ní Chonchúir, Deputy Head of Mission Irish embassy, ​​Madrid. The local Irish Consul also attended.

Torrijos Historical Society. and also some photos here.



Regards,


Roger Cummiskey, B.Comm..
Presidente, AIA.







      

Spain:   +34 666 78 26 42 

Skype: rogercummiskey









Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Irish Literature: What Makes Irish Writers So Good?

Image
James Joyce by Roger Cummiskey. When we think of Ireland, we think of a country that has a rich cultural heritage. A place which seems to be bursting at the seams with poets, novelists and playwrights, who all seem to have been gifted with an incredible innate sense of storytelling and drama. If you were to check the list of Nobel Prize winners since it’s inception, you’d find that Ireland ranks eighth in terms of how many it has produced over the years. Just what is it that makes the Irish so good at writing and the creative process? The first Irish foray into literature Culturally speaking, Ireland lays claim to the fact that it has one of the oldest forms of vernacular literature in the world, with only Greek or Latin able to match it. The Irish peoples were literate from the very earliest centuries, utilising a simple writing system called “Ogham” which was a way of communicating via inscriptions on little stone tablets. One of the very first proper written Irish wor...
Read more

Bloomsday - Spain 2017

Image
Click here Bloomsday 2017 edit Come and join us on the beach in Fuengirola on: Bloomsday, Friday 16 June 2017 at 08:00 h. We will start by reading Chapter six from Ulysses – Hades, Glasnevin cemetery in  YOUR language. Bring your own copy. Enquiries from +34 666 78 26 42.  And it is  FREE.  All that is required is that you   turn up on time   to participate. It will be a memorable occasion. A fun get together providing the opportunity to become fully or partially immersed in –  sea water. Bloomsday – June 16th  – is an annual celebration among Joyce fans throughout the world, from Fuengirola to Melbourne. It is celebrated in at least sixty countries worldwide. The novel,  Ulysses , by James Joyce recounts the hour-by-hour events of one day in Dublin – June 16, 1904 – as an ordinary Dubliner, Leopold Bloom, wends his way through the urban landscape, the odyssey of a modern-day Ulysses. Where:  The...
Read more

FRD Excursion to Malaga 2015

Image
Photos of the Excursion. Mr Bruce McEntyre - President of the Foundation of the English Cemetery and former British Consul, Malaga - Roger Cummiskey - President of the AIA Art Group. We visited he Sur Newspaper Offices and had a talk by Rachel Hynes, Editor and Liz Parry, Former Editor. We also saw the old printing press currently being taken apart. Following this we viewed a film entered for the Goya Awards entitled After this we were shown around the English Cemetery by Bruce McEntyre, President of the Cemetery Foundation and Liz Parry, Secretary. Mr Bruce McEntyre - President of the Foundation of the English Cemetery and former British Consul, Malaga. Roger Cummiskey - President of the AIA Art Group. Andalusian International Artists.  Translated from Spanish. The English Cemetery We also had a private viewing of the short film "La Cañada de los Ingleses" by Director Victor Matellano. The film was a prizewinning entry for the Goy...
Read more