2023 Summer Newsletter
Dear Irish community, friends of Ireland, A chairde,
Welcome to the summer edition of our Embassy newsletter. We hope that the younger members of the community are enjoying a break from school and that all of you are getting a chance to down tools and have a well-earned holiday.
Since our last newsletter at the end of May, the Embassy team has been proudly promoting Ireland, highlighting our country’s many strengths as well as its values while working to further reinforce our relations with Slovakia. You will find a selection of photographs in the pages that follow.
In June, we marked Bloomsday and all things Joycean in the beautiful University Library in Bratislava’s Old Town. Our thanks to the readers for their virtuoso performances in both English and Slovak and who, through their interpretation of the immortal Ulysses, infused new life into the characters on that day in Dublin in 1904. In June, we also had the pleasure of welcoming teachers from the Educate Together secondary school in Gorey, County Wexford who were just wrapping up a visit to Bratislava. They were here at the invitation of their colleagues at the Gymnázium Bilíkova with which the school in Gorey is being twinned. Teachers and pupils from the two schools will organise regular exchanges, starting in October. This is a wonderful and enriching initiative. Special thanks are due to my opposite number, Slovakia’s Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Mr. Andrej Droba for spearheading the idea. We look forward to welcoming teachers and pupils from both schools to our Embassy.
We were delighted to promote Ireland at the Open Day held in Slovakia’s Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs on Saturday 17 June. In all, about 1,500 members of the general public came to the Open Day. Our stand was very popular with lots of questions from children and adults alike about Ireland’s history, culture, the values that we represent and our place in the world.
Deputy Head of Mission and Consul, Janet O’Sullivan participated in the International Day for Women in Diplomacy. Janet showed a young Slovak student around the Embassy and introduced her to the work of a diplomat.
Irish culture, specifically our film making, came up trumps in Slovakia. The Oscar-nominated Irish-language film, An Cailín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl won the audience prize for best movie at the Kosice Art Film Fest. Sister Louise, who is based with her fellow sisters in Spišské Podhradie where she works with the disadvantaged Roma Community, accepted the award on behalf of Director Colm Bairéad. As was entirely fitting, Sister Louise delivered some of her address in Irish. Comhghairdeas!
Finally, just last weekend, we joined other like-minded Embassies at Bratislava PRIDE, sporting the colours of both Ireland and the Rainbow Flag. Our community members and school teachers, Keveena Quinn and Shane Callaghan, also attended the Vienna PRIDE this year and share their impressions for our readers.
If you know of anyone who has recently arrived in Slovakia and who you think would be interested in being on our circulation list, please encourage them to register with us at CitizensRegister.
For news and updates, the Embassy’s twitter account @IrlEmbSlovakia remains your chief source of information together with our Facebook at this LINK. You can also check out my twitter account - @IEAmbBratislava
As always, we warmly welcome your feedback and suggestions as we work to improve our service and outreach to you. Please send any comments or ideas to Bratislava@dfa.ie Perhaps you would like to contribute an article to our newsletter. If so, we would be delighted to hear from you!
With best wishes for the summer, le gach dea-ghuí.
Dermot McGauran
Ambassador of Ireland
The Embassy celebrated “Bloomsday” on 16 June in the beautiful University Library of Bratislava with selected readings in English and Slovak from James Joyce’s Ulysses. Congratulations to our four readers who did not so much “read” as “perform” passages from the great novel!
http://Ireland.ie/Bloomsday
A busy day for the Embassy team at the Foreign Ministry’s Open Day on 17 June. Approximately, 1,500 members of the general public came to the Ministry and visited Embassy stands, including ours. A great opportunity to promote Ireland and to tell Slovaks more about our country. Special thanks to the volunteers who helped us at the stand. Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Miroslav Wlachovsky chatted to Ambassador McGauran about strong Irish-Slovak ties and how we can further build on them.
Yet another award for the internationally acclaimed Irish film, The Quiet Girl/An Cailín Ciúin, this time at the prestigious Art Film Fest in Košice. Sister Louise, based in nearby Spišské Pohradie, accepted the award on behalf of director Colm Bairéad, delivering some of her address as Gaeilge!
We were delighted to see the Irish community in Slovakia joining forces not only at Bratislava PRIDE byt at Vienna PRIDE too. This year, Keveena Quinn and Shane Callaghan, accompanied by their friends, took part in the Vienna parade. They climbed aboard a Wiener Linien tram, the very first 'float' of the parade.
In their own words: ´´Vienna PRIDE was wonderful. It felt as if the entire city was a rainbow. It was a fun, inclusive day out and given our current climate, it was nice to just bask in the sun and celebrate.´´
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The Embassy was once again represented at Bratislava Pride, joining other members of the foreign diplomatic community. It was a wonderful, good humoured and fun-filled occasion which thankfully passed off without incident. We stand in solidarity with Slovakia’s LGBTI+ community who have too often faced discrimination and worse.
As you may have seen, a changed and more tolerant Ireland was held up as a possible role model for Slovakia an article in the Slovak Spectator, read the article here.
We were delighted to welcome teachers from the Educate Together secondary school in Gorey, Co. Wexford who are twinning with the Gynázium Bilíkova in Bratislava. Staff and pupil exchanges will begin later this year. Congratulations to all involved in creating this exciting partnership and good luck for the future.
On International Day of Women in Diplomacy on 24th June, our Constul and Deputy Head of Mission, Janet was delighted to share her experiences as part of the student shadowing programme organised in cooperation with the Slovak Foreign Ministry and second level schools. Young female students had a unique opportunity to gain insight into a day in the life of a diplomat.
We were delighted to welcome an impressive young student Tereza to our Embassy where she also met Ambassador McGauran and the rest of the team. We wish her and all the other participants success in their future endeavours.
Slovak Shamrocks: Dominating the Regional GAA Scene
The Slovak Shamrocks, a vibrant GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) team based in Bratislava, has been making remarkable strides in the Central and East European region. With their unwavering dedication and passion for Gaelic sports, the team has achieved outstanding results, leaving a mark on the international GAA community.
On May 27th, the Slovak Shamrocks participated in the highly competitive regional tournament for Central and East Europe, which was hosted in the picturesque city of Vienna.
Both the men's and ladies' teams showcased exceptional skills and teamwork, setting the stage for an extraordinary performance.
In a display of unity and camaraderie, the ladies' team combined forces with Lazio, a formidable team hailing from Rome. This strategic collaboration proved to be a winning formula, as they emerged victorious, clinching the coveted shield cup. The triumph was a testament to the strength of friendship and sportsmanship that transcends borders and cultures.
Not to be outdone, the men's team rose to the occasion with equal determination. To bolster their ranks, they welcomed two skilled players from the Prague Hibernians GAA team. This infusion of talent proved instrumental in securing the shield cup for the men's team, marking a historic achievement for the Slovak Shamrocks. This win was particularly significant as it marked the first shield cup victory in a regional tournament since the establishment of the club in 2011.
Currently, the Slovak Shamrocks are taking a well-deserved break from training, making the most of the summer season. However, their dedication to the sport remains unwavering. The team will reconvene in mid-August, resuming their rigorous training sessions as they prepare for their next tournament scheduled for September 16th in the vibrant city of Budapest.
The Slovak Shamrocks have become more than just a sports club; they have become ambassadors of Gaelic culture and values in the heart of Central Europe. Their commitment to fostering strong bonds with other GAA teams from different regions showcases the spirit of friendship and collaboration that defines the GAA community worldwide.
As the club continues to grow and achieve remarkable success, it serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and sports enthusiasts in Slovakia and beyond. The Slovak Shamrocks have demonstrated that with determination, teamwork, and a passion for the game, any goal can be achieved.
Stay tuned to witness more extraordinary performances and victories from the Slovak Shamrocks as they continue their journey of excellence in the GAA arena. Let's rally behind our home team and celebrate their success as they continue to make us proud on the international stage. Go Slovak Shamrocks!
If you would like to join our multicultural team feel free to send us a message on social media (@SlovakShamrocksGAA = FB LINK )