Consul General

Welcome to the website of the Consulate General in Lyon.

Along with Saoirse Tracy, Vice-Consul, I am delighted and honoured to represent Ireland across Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

This, the first Consulate General in France, is part of the Global Ireland initiative and a testament to the longstanding close relationship between Ireland and France.

The Consulate opened in 2022 and Enterprise Ireland has been present here since 2019. Our wider relationships are longstanding, warm and vibrant, underpinned by people to people ties and we are looking forward to supporting, growing and adding to these relationships in the coming years.

The richness and depth of connection between France and Ireland, and in these regions in particular, is seen in the thousands of friendships, school exchanges, town twinnings, businesses working together. It is reflected in the many political visits between our two countries every year and in the vibrant Irish community in Lyon and our wider consular area.

Please do get in touch with us via this website and follow our social media channels for the latest news and updates as we settle into life in the region. I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming weeks and months.

Amal Kaoua

Amal Kaoua took up her position as Ireland’s Consul General in Lyon in August 2025.

She joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2007 and has worked across a broad range of diplomatic roles, including serving in Embassy Rome and in Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the EU, Brussels. Amal also worked with Save the Children and as Senior Manager for Corporate Affairs with Kerry Group. Amal’s most recent role was Director of the EU Secretariat in Dublin in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s EU and Trade Policy Division.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in French and Economics, a Masters in International Relations and speaks English, French and Italian.