Ambassador Adrian O'Neill presents his Letters of Credentials to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth
On 8th November, Ambassador Adrian O'Neill had the honour of presenting his letters of credentials to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. The Ambassador was accompanied by his wife Aisling and four of his colleagues in the Embassy, Deputy Ambassador Don Sexton, Political Counsellor Gerald Angley, Economic and Trade Counsellor Paraig Hennessy and First Secretary Nicole Mannion.
On receiving the Ambassador's credentials, Her Majesty was welcoming and keenly interested in the welfare of Ireland and the state of relations between our two countries. The Queen recalled with great affection her State Visit to Ireland in 2011 and conveyed her best wishes to President Higgins and the Irish people.
On behalf of President Higgins and the Irish Government, Ambassador O'Neill was very happy to reciprocate those warm wishes and to tell Her Majesty that her visit to Ireland in 2011 is still regarded as a significant milestone in the history of Irish-British relations. The words of generosity and gestures of reconciliation associated with that visit had a powerful impact and have left a very positive legacy. President Higgins built further on that legacy during his very successful State Visit to the UK in 2014.
On his return from Buckingham Palace, the Ambassador hosted a small reception for the Embassy team, colleagues in the various Irish State Agencies and a number of friends of Ireland and of the Irish Embassy in London. In his remarks to assembled guests, he thanked the many friends of the Embassy, both those whom he knows well already and those who he looks forward to getting to know during the course of his assignment. He thanked them for their interest in Ireland, for their solidarity with the Irish community in Britain, for their practical support of the work of the Embassy and for the goodwill that they show towards ever improving Ireland-UK relations.
The Ambassador expressed his gratitude that all present could rejoice in what has been achieved in recent years – in the mutual respect and friendship that characterises relations between our two countries. He acknowledged that while there may be clouds on the horizon that may test our Ireland-UK partnership, in rising to that challenge we can take courage from the distance that we have already travelled together.
On a day that sadly marked the 30th anniversary of the Enniskillen bombing, Ambassador O'Neill reminded those present of our shared determination to protect the gains of a process that has not only delivered peace in Northern Ireland but has transformed the totality of relations across these islands. While celebrating all that has been achieved over recent years, the Ambassador warned against any sense of complacency that takes our happy state of bilateral relations for granted.
The Ambassador concluded by thanking the Marshall and Vice Marshall of the Diplomatic Corp, the relevant officials in Buckingham Palace and in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for their courtesy and consideration in making the ceremony such a dignified and yet joyful occasion. He also congratulated the Vice Marshall of the Diplomatic Corp Julian Evans on his forthcoming retirement after a long and distinguished career in the British Foreign Service.
Following warm words of congratulations from the Vice Marshall, guests enjoyed the talents of harpist Anneka Hodnett who accompanied soprano Daire Halpin in two songs by Thomas Moore.
