Ireland Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in Liberia

On 19 March 2024, the Embassy of Ireland in Liberia hosted a reception to mark Ireland’s National Day, St Patrick’s Day. Celebrated on 17 March each year, St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century.  

The event celebrated the strong political and cultural links between Ireland and Liberia and recognized joint efforts on development cooperation in Liberia.  The Embassy of Ireland’s work in Liberia emphasizes support for vulnerable Liberian citizens, those with the greatest need and those who suffer marginalization. 

Diplomatic relations between Liberia and Ireland were established in 2004, a year after members of the Irish defence forces were deployed in over 2,700 tours of duty in support of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). The Irish peacekeepers ended their tour of duty in 2007. 

Now, the Embassy of Ireland is one of four member states of the European Union (EU) with an Embassy presence in Liberia. Since 2005, combined development funding from Ireland is close to €100 million.

This year, Ireland will launch a new strategy for Liberia, which will focus on increasing the resilience of the furthest behind, with a particular focus on women and girls.  Ireland will continue to strengthen and deepen the relationship with Liberia, which includes a commitment by the Government of Ireland to appoint a resident ambassador in Liberia in 2024.  

Speaking at the event, which was attended by senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the Irish community and development partners, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Ireland, Gerard Considine, said: “This year, we will launch a new strategy for the coming five years of Ireland’s engagement with Liberia, but we can already say that our emphasis will remain on working closely with Liberia to support the most vulnerable, those with the greatest need and those who are left on the margins. Securing peace and advancing gender equality will be at the centre of these objectives.”

Chargé d’Affaires Considine congratulated Liberia and the Liberian people for their commitment to democracy and the peaceful conduct of elections in 2023.

“We began the year with a peaceful transition in Government,” he said. “Liberia and the Liberian people have demonstrated, once again, a deep commitment to democracy, and most of all to maintaining peace.  It was humbling to witness voters turn out in huge numbers on Election Day to wait patiently in line, sometimes for many hours, to express their democratic will.” 

Speaking of the importance of the values that underpin the relationship between Ireland and Liberia, the Chargé d’Affaires added: “Our partnership, rooted in shared values such as protection of peace, the promotion of human rights and respect for the rule of law, is of vital importance, now more than ever.  Ireland is deeply committed to a strong and fair rules-based multilateral order with the United Nations at its core.  Our commitment to multilateralism and the primacy of international law is unwavering just as it is and has been for Liberia.”   

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, spoke on behalf of the Government of Liberia.  In her remarks, she congratulated Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in Liberia on the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day.