Ambassador of Ireland to Bulgaria, Catherine Bannon

A chairde/Dear friends,

Welcome to the website of the Embassy of Ireland to Bulgaria.

It is my great personal and professional privilege to serve as Ambassador of Ireland in Sofia and I had the honour to present my Letters of Credence to President Rumen Radev on 8 October 2024. Together with the team at the Embassy of Ireland, I am proud to promote stronger cooperation and foster mutual understanding between the Government and people of Ireland and the Republic of Bulgaria.

Bulgaria and Ireland are small, like-minded nations at either end of Europe with surprising cultural and historical bonds – our folklore and mythology as well as music and storytelling traditions. Our two countries also have distinct but similar historical experiences that have shaped our strong sense of national pride and identity.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries in 1990, our bilaterial ties have grown steadily, supported by our shared EU membership and commitment to European values.

I look forward to working to deepen the bilateral relations between our two countries; develop the rich cultural links already in place and showcase Ireland as an attractive place to visit, do business, study and live.

As I begin my Bulgarian journey, I am reminded of the words of Irish poet John O’Donohue:

When you travel, you find yourself
Alone in a different way,
More attentive now
To the self you bring along,
Your more subtle eye watching
You abroad; and how what meets you
Touches that part of the heart
That lies low at home:

How you unexpectedly attune
To the timbre in some voice,
Opening in conversation
You want to take in
To where your longing
Has pressed hard enough
Inward, on some unsaid dark,
To create a crystal of insight
You could not have known
You needed
To illuminate
Your way.

Le gach dea-ghuí, with best wishes,

Catherine Bannon