Embassy history
In September 1960, Ireland opened a Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria's then capital, headed by Consul Aedan O'Beirne (now deceased). At that time, there were about forty diplomatic missions in Lagos.
Mr. O'Beirne arrived in Nigeria in early September and immediately set about preparing for the visit of Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Seán Lemass, who attended Nigeria's independence celebrations in October 1960.
In 1961, the Consulate was upgraded to a full Embassy, Ireland’s first on the African continent, and Ireland's first Ambassador to Nigeria, Eamonn Kennedy (now deceased) assumed duties in Lagos on 30 August 1961.
At that time, approximately 1,000 Irish priests and nuns were working in Nigeria. Though their numbers today are few, the Embassy is regularly reminded of the Irish missionaries' contributions to Nigeria, especially in the areas of health and education.
nomic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Edward (Eamonn) Kennedy | 1961-1964 |
Kevin Rush | 1964-1968 |
Paul Keating | 1968-1970 |
Tadhg O'Sullivan | 1970-1974 |
Michael Flynn | 1974-1977 |
James Kirwan | 1977-1980 |
Aidan Mulloy | 1981-1984 |
Dermot Gallagher | 1985-1987 |
Patrick Cradock | 1989-1993 |
Brendan McMahon | 1994-1998 |
Joseph Lynch | 1998-2003 |
Liam Canniffe | 2003-2007 |
Kyle O'Sullivan | 2007-2010 |
Patrick Fay | 2010-2014 |
Seán Hoy | 2014-2018 |
Síle Maguire | 2021-2022 |
Peter Ryan | 2023 - Present |