Ambassador of Ireland to Malawi
Séamus O'Grady
Welcome message
Dia dhaoibh go léir,
I am delighted to welcome you to Ireland.ie/Malawi
I hope that you will find this website a useful resource for updates on the work of the Embassy of Ireland in Lilongwe. You will also find clear guidance on our consular services and a better understanding of Ireland’s engagement in Malawi.
Since January 2021 I have had the honour of serving as Ireland’s Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi. I lead a team here that is committed to deepening the relationship between our two countries and serving our people in Malawi.
Our Embassy was established in 2007, but the connections between our two countries date back many decades. Irish people, including missionaries, have supported Malawi’s development in the areas of education, health, governance and business.
Bilateral relations between our two governments have continued to grow, based on a strong foundation of development cooperation. Our political engagement, as a committed member of Team Europe in Malawi, is aimed at advancing our shared values and interests.
Ireland’s relationship with Malawi is built on the values of partnership and mutual respect. Working with government, our EU partners, the UN family and a range of NGOs, our priorities include good governance, gender equality, improving social protection and resilience, as well as responding to the impact of climate change in dynamic and innovative ways.
The Embassy is committed to engaging with the small but vibrant Irish community in Malawi, including through the delivery of consular services based upon the highest standards of professionalism and empathy. Each year we look forward to arranging cultural events for the Irish community and our friends here in Malawi, most notably around St Brigid’s Day and St Patrick’s Day. We are always interested in hearing about opportunities to deepen cultural and people-to-people links between our two countries.
If you would like to get in touch with us about our work, or if you would like to be added to our database of Irish citizens in Malawi, please contact us. You can also find regular updates from the Embassy on our Twitter page. You can also follow my official Twitter account, @IEAmbLilongwe.
Beir bua,
Séamus O’Grady,
Ambassador of Ireland
Lilongwe, Malawi
Biography
A native of Lecarrow, Co Roscommon, Ambassador O’Grady Joined the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Senior Development Specialist in 2007, having previously served with the Department as a Programme Officer in Lesotho from 1981 to 1985 and as a Technical Advisor in Zambia from 1987 to 1992. He previously held positions in finance and management in a number of organisations.
From 1992 to 2007, Ambassador O’Grady worked as consultant advisor to the European Commission on economic reforms and budget support programmes across countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Ambassador O’Grady holds a Master’s in Business Administration and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He is married to Mary and has four adult daughters.
Roles at the Department of Foreign Affairs since 2007:
- September 2007 - Senior Development Specialist and Deputy Director Evaluation and Audit Unit, DFA Headquarters, Dublin
- September 2015 - Ambassador of Ireland to the Republic of Zambia.
Ambassador (on a non-residential basis) to the Republic of Namibia and to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Embassy of Ireland, Lusaka - January 2021 - Ambassador of Ireland to the Republic of Malawi, Embassy of Ireland, Lilongwe