Meet Ambassador O’Neill Adrian O’Neill (BA 1983) was appointed Irish Ambassador to the UK in September 2017. He tells us about running the embassy in a time of Brexit and COVID, why Irish graduates choose the UK, and his favourite Trinity memories Can you provide an insight into the work of the Embassy and the ways in which you represent and promote Ireland? With Ireland and the UK being each other’s closest neighbours, the Embassy in London is one of Ireland’s largest diplomatic missions. Together with our Consulates in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester, my team and I work to support the people- to-people, economic, cultural and political connections between the two countries. The UK continues to be a very popular destination for young Irish graduates, why do you think this is? The size of the UK and the different scale of business and other sectors here, as well as the ease of proximity and a shared language and similar culture, undoubtedly continue to exert a strong pull for Irish graduates, many of whom work here for a number of years before returning home having gained great experience and developed new skills. How has the bilateral relationship between the UK and Ireland changed post-Brexit and what has that meant for your role as Ambassador? For the last half century, the relationship between Ireland and the UK was in many ways defined though our common membership of the European Union. It was in this context that our respective Ministers and senior officials most often met. These meetings, usually in Brussels, provided opportunities to develop working relationships and have conversations about bilateral matters – not just EU business. Can you share some favourite memories of your student days at Trinity? At the age of 21, I was a late starter when I entered Trinity in 1979. I studied single honours history and – due to the time away from study since I had left school – was convinced that I would crash out in first year. I therefore probably spent far too much time in the Berkeley Library reading works on compulsory medieval history – not my favourite period – and ensuring that I passed my first year exams. What are some of the highlights from your time as Secretary General to the President of Ireland? I served as Secretary General to the President for a little over four years – from 2010 to 2014. It was a great honour to serve President McAleese on the final 18 months of her tenure and to support President Higgins as he began his term in office. There were some very memorable moments accompanying the President on visits abroad – to Spain, various countries in South America and being in Rome with President Higgins for the installation of Pope Francis. I was particularly fortunate to work in the President’s office for the State Visit of Queen Elizabeth in 2011 and for the return State Visit of President Higgins in 2014. Both visits were deeply symbolic in terms of the positive transformation of relations between the UK and Ireland and I was privileged to be a close witness to the words and gestures that lifted all our hearts. While in the Áras, I was also thrilled to have the opportunity to meet two incumbents of the West Wing – President Barak Obama and President Jed Bartlett (aka Martin Sheen).
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