By Dan Walsh at Presentation Secondary School, Wexford
Madame Céline Place, Ambassadrice de France en Irlande paid her first visit to the French community in Wexford where she presented the new Honorary Consul of France in Wexford, Ms Mélanie O’Reilly, with the official insignia to complete and formalise her appointment, following the presentation of her certificate last July.
The pleasant ceremony, conducted entirely in the French language, took place last Monday in the Presentation Secondary School at Grogan’s Road, Wexford, thanks to the Principal Mr Wiliam Ryan and his friendly team.
Ms. O’Reilly has been appointed as the new Honorary Consul of France in Wexford, responsible for the counties of Wexford, Waterford, Laois, Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny.
Ambassador Place said; “In addition to contributing to the dynamism and influence of the bilateral relationship, the presence of a new honorary consul in the region will allow the French community – a little over 900 French people registered in the area – to benefit from certain consular services without having to travel to Dublin, and will also allow French people passing through to benefit, if necessary, from local assistance, in connection with our consular services in Dublin.
“This new appointment completes the dynamic and valuable network of the three Honorary Consuls of France already established in Ireland, in Cork, Limerick and Galway. The Embassy warmly congratulates Ms. Mélanie O’Reilly on her appointment and thanks her for her voluntary commitment to the service of the French community and French interests in the south-east region of Ireland,” concluded Mme Place.
In reply, Ms. Mélanie O’Reilly, addressing Madame L’Ambassadrice, all distinguished guests and members of the French community in Wexford thanked Madam Ambassador for this honour of having received the insignia in the name of the President of the French Republic.
“It is a huge honour to be chosen as the new honorary consul of France in the south-east of Ireland, in Wexford. Being a representative of the French Embassy is an extraordinary honour. I have the pleasure of working with the French Embassy in Ireland and with the three Honorary Consuls of France in Limerick, Cork and Galway. And above all, I am here for the French community of Wexford.
“The symbol of the French Republic – the Marianne – embodies our values in just three words: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. I intend and hope that I will bring these values and all my skills to this important role of Honorary Consul to serve and support French citizens residing or visiting Wexford and the South East region; serve as the French Embassy’s representative to local authorities, such as Wexford County Council and the County Wexford Chamber of Commerce – to local community groups and organisations and work with them to promote culture, economy, heritage, education, tourism, sporting and maritime between France and Wexford and the south-east region.
“In June of this year, I had the chance to shake hands and even exchange a few words with the French President during the commemorations of the 80th Anniversary of the landing in Saint-Lô, in Normandy. As he shook my hand, he stated very clearly that “we are good friends with Ireland” Indeed, France and Ireland have been good friends for a long time and we are really aware of that here in Wexford.
“I am sure that this relationship will be further strengthened by Madame l’Ambassadrice Céline Place and I look forward to what this will bring to the French community in Wexford. Vive la France, Vive l’Irlande, et vive l’amitié franco-irlandaise!, concluded Ms. O’Reilly.
WexfordLocal.com wishes to thank the French Embassy for the invitation to the ceremony. As stated, the entire speeches were delivered in French and my thanks for the French Embassy in Dublin for translating the speeches into the English language for the benefit of our readers.
WexfordLocal.com 