Welcome to the October edition of the Consulate’s newsletter. In this issue we recap on what has been a very busy September and look forward to some very exciting events taking place throughout October. 

In September, we were delighted to accompany a group of political advisors from the Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate state parliaments on a study visit to Ireland. More recently, Consul General Anne-Marie Flynn participated in a panel discussion at the Hey Europe! Festival in Hanau, while Deputy Consul General Patrick McDonagh represented the Consulate at the Frankfurt Newcomers Festival in the Römer. The Consulate was also privileged to attend the launch of the ‘Operation Shamrock’ exhibition in Friedberg – we would encourage anyone in the vicinity to visit this thought-provoking exhibition. 

Ahead of Literature Ireland’s participation at the world-renowned Frankfurt Book Fair, the Consulate is looking forward to welcoming award-winning author Emilie Pine to the Goethe University in Frankfurt on 20 October. Pine will read from her new novel Ruth & Pen and join a panel discussion as part of the launch of our International Joyce Exhibition. You can find more information in the events section below!   

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. 

Kind regards, 

Anne-Marie, Patrick, Martina and Rebecca 

Consulate General of Ireland, Frankfurt

German political advisors trip to Ireland, 12-14 September 

Consul General Flynn was delighted to accompany a delegation of political advisers from the Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate Landtag and the Bundestag to Ireland in September, along with colleagues from the Irish Embassy in Berlin.  During the visit, the advisers had the opportunity to learn about Ireland’s foreign policy, our economic model and the importance of our EU membership, as we prepare to celebrate 50 years since our accession on 1 January 1973.  They also visited the border and met with there with companies benefitting from the Northern Ireland Protocol including Lakeland Dairies, Combilift and Silver Hill Duck, and attended a reception hosted by the German Ambassador to Ireland Cord Meier-Klodt.

Newcomers Network Festival 2022, 17 September 

Deputy Consul General Patrick McDonagh represented the Consulate at the first Diplomats Corner at the 22^nd Frankfurt Newcomers Festival. The Consulate's stand, which generated a lot of interest from visitors on the day, included books on Ireland, a video showcasing some of the most beautiful parts of Ireland, and some Irish chocolates which were a big hit. We were delighted to meet all the visitors who stopped by and it was great to see such an interest in the Consulate’s stand. 

“Hey Europe!” Festival in Hanau, 24 September 

Consul General Anne-Marie Flynn travelled to Hanau to participate in a panel discussion at the “Hey Europe!” Festival. She was joined by Hesse's Minister for European and Federal Affairs Lucia Puttrich MdL and the French and Italian Consul Generals. The “Hey Europe!” Festival was organised by the Hesse State Chancellery and brought together 250 young people aged 16 – 25 to share their views on EU issues and the future of Europe with policymakers in Hesse. During her contribution, Anne-Marie discussed Ireland's response to the Ukraine war, the energy and cost of living crises, and the climate crisis, emphasising the importance of a shared European response in dealing with these issues.  

Operation Shamrock Exhibition Launch in Friedberg, 29 September 

The Consulate was privileged to attend the launch of the 'Operation Shamrock' exhibition in Friedberg. 

Operation Shamrock was a rescue mission that brought vulnerable children from Germany to Ireland after the Second World War. Over 400 children, the majority of whom came from the Rhine-Ruhr area, which had been heavily bombed, travelled to Ireland to live with foster families for a number of years. Of the 400 or so children who travelled, around 50 remained in Ireland. 

The exhibition runs until 21 October at Krieshaus Friedberg. Further details are available here.   

Launch of the "International Joyce" Exhibition in Worms, 26 September 

Our ‘International Joyce’ exhibition, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses, moved from Darmstadt City Library to the Rudi-Stephan-Gymnasium in Worms on 23 September. Deputy Consul General Patrick McDonagh made the journey to Worms to meet with staff and students and to launch the exhibition. Patrick’s visit coincided with the school’s annual European Day of Languages celebrations, which made the launch of the exhibition all the more exciting – there was a stand dedicated to Ireland which served ‘Irish Tea’ – the perfect welcome for Patrick. 

The exhibition will run from the 23 September – 14 October before moving to the Goethe University Frankfurt for the next leg of the tour. Keep an eye on our social media channels for further details of when the exhibition is coming to a city near you! 

Book Club, 4 October 

The Consulate General's Book Club returned after the summer break to discuss Louise Nealon's debut novel Snowflake. In a first for the Consulate, we were joined by the author Louise Nealon for the meeting. Louise provided a brief introduction to the book and then answered questions from those in attendance. The response to the book and the meeting was extremely positive and we were delighted that Louise joined us. Our next book club will take place on 8 November and we will read Ruth & Pen by Professor Emilie Pine. 

As usual, the book club will run in a hybrid format, with attendance possible either in-person at the Consulate premises or online via Zoom. Keep an eye on our social media channels for further information! 

Upcoming Events

Pop-Up Gaeltacht, 16 October 

Tá an Pop Up Gaeltacht ar ais!

The Pop-Up Gaeltacht returns to Frankfurt Art Bar in Sachsenhausen on 16 October from 5pm. This relaxed Irish language meetup provides a wonderful opportunity to speak, practice and learn Irish - all levels of Irish, including beginners, are welcome. 

If you don't speak Irish, but are interested in listening in or learning more about the Irish language, then please do pop along – it’s open to all. 

Emilie Pine to visit Frankfurt in October, 20 October 

The Consulate is delighted to be partnering with the Goethe University Frankfurt to welcome award-winning author, Emilie Pine, to Frankfurt in October. Pine is the author of the critically acclaimed Notes to Self (2018) and the recently published Ruth & Pen (2022). Notes to Self was the winner of numerous awards, including the Butler Literary Award and An Post Irish Book of the Year. 

While in Frankfurt, Pine will discuss her most recent book Ruth & Pen at the Goethe University in Frankfurt on 20^th October and will also be in attendance at the Frankfurter Buchmesse on 21^st October. If you would like to listen to Pine read from her latest book and to join the launch of the ‘International Joyce’ exhibition, please register your attendance via Eventbrite. The event is free and open to members of the public and will include a reception afterwards. 

Ireland at the Frankfurter Buchmesse, 19-23 October 2022 

Ireland and Irish publishers and authors will be represented at this year’s Frankfurter Buchmesse which runs from the 19 - 23 October. There will be strong representation from Ireland throughout the fair, including a visit by Ireland’s Ambassador to Germany, Dr. Nicholas O’Brien, and Professor Emilie Pine to the Literature Ireland stand on the 21^st October. The Consulate will also be in attendance and we look forward to hopefully meeting some of you there. 

Further information on Irish participants at the Frankfurter Buchmesse is available here. Further information on the Frankfurter Buchmesse is available here.

Hallowe’en Week at the Consulate 

If you need some inspiration for your Hallowe’en celebrations – look no further! Starting 24 October, the Consulate will share some fun facts and ideas on our social media channels as part of our “Ireland: Home of Hallowe’en Week”. 

With our tips for Hallowe’en games, storytelling and traditional recipes, you can recreate the magic of the Halloween season from the comfort of home, no matter where you are in the world. 

Consulate General of Ireland, Frankfurt
Signature OpernTurm

Bockenheimer Landstr. 2-4
60306 Frankfurt am Main 

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