Ireland in India

An Irish Christmas in New Delhi 🎄🇮🇪🇮🇳 This past Friday, we celebrated a truly magical evening as our very own Aoife Scott and her band brought the festive spirit of Ireland all the way to New Delhi. Through a mix of festive songs and infectious energy, Aoife and the band not only filled the room with Christmas cheer but transported us all to Ireland for the evening. It was a night to remember, and we extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us to sing, dance and celebrate an Irish Christmas in Delhi together. Go raibh míle maith agaibh agus beannachtaí na Nollag oraibh ar fad! 🎄✨ Kevin Kelly

An unforgettable evening with Jane Ohlmeyer, William Dalrymple and Swapna Liddle celebrating the rich histories of Ireland and India, and the complex legacy of Empire. Co-hosted with the UK High Commission, this event was a powerful reminder of the connections and stories that shaped our shared past. Ireland, India and Empire was full of thought-provoking discussions, inspiring moments, and intriguing questions by the audience on the impact of Empire as we look to the future of new relationships. Kevin Kelly Jane Ohlmeyer (she/her) British High Commission in India Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland

Ireland has spirit: that was the message we took away from the reception held in Ireland House, Mumbai last week. The Consulate General of Ireland in Mumbai, and Ireland’s food and drink promotion agency, Bord Bia - The Irish Food Board , were thrilled to host some of Ireland’s most dynamic and innovative producers of spirits, as well as some of Mumbai’s most prominent importers, influencers, journalists, publicans and restauranteurs. We all know the incredible story (and taste!) of Irish whiskey, but these lucky Mumbaikars also had the chance to sample some of Ireland’s incredible, small-batch output of gin, vodka, Irish cream, and even rum! The historic resonances of many of the brands were also fascinating, with links to the 1798 rebellion (Wexford’s “Bold 98” whiskey) and the famed orator and advocate of Catholic emancipation, Daniel O’Connell (“The Liberator” whiskey). There were also direct links to India, with one of the gins (“Maharani”) flavours and spices from southern India to fuse the Cork and Keralan backgrounds of the husband-wife team who have created it. Finally, the bottle design and artwork of the spirits displayed were incredible, with references ranging from Ireland’s only native toad (“Natterjack Irish Whiskey”), to the nautical traditions of West Cork (“Beara Black Cask Blend”), and to the longstanding dairy traditions of Munster’s golden vale (“Five Farms Single Batch Irish Cream Liqueur”). We hope—we know—that the remarkable tastes, designs, and ideas underpinning these products will draw in a loyal Indian following upon their launch. We can’t wait to see them on the shelves of Mumbai, of Delhi, and across this great country. Kevin Kelly Anita Kelly Beara Distillery Dingle Distillery Gortinore Distillers & Co. New Era Spirits OUTCAST BRANDS IRELAND Rebel City Distillery Stafford Irish Spirits Co ®

The Ambassador and team was honoured to attend the commemoration ceremony of the 125th birth anniversary of Private James Daly in November 2024, which also served as a poignant ‘Remembrance’ event for both the ‘Dagshai Mutiny’ and Private Daly’s birthday. The ceremony was held at St. Patrick’s Church in Dagshai, which was built with contributions from the troopers of the Connaught Rangers and restored with the support and dedication of Mr Anand and Ms Deepa Sharma. His Grace Maschrenas Ignatius, Bishop of Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh, blessed the ceremony and those present in attendance. The event included a performance, by a leading Choir from Chandigarh, who sang songs and hymns dear to the Irish people and culminated with a Pipes and Drums Band playing tunes connected not only to the Connaught Rangers but also to the Indian National Army; Azad Hind Fauj. Born in Ballymoe, County Galway, Private James Joseph Daly served in the Connaught Ranger in India. In June 1920, a mutiny broke out in Jalandhar, Punjab, in response to repressive policies by the colonial forces in Ireland at that time. While those stationed in Jalandhar refused to obey orders from their colonial masters, Private Daly in the town of Solan led 70 Connaught Rangers detachment station in Solan and tried to take over the armoury. While the mutiny was not successful, it served as an inspiration to those fighting colonialism both in Ireland and in India. For his actions in the mutiny, Private Daly was imprisoned in Dagshai Jail and later executed by a firing squad on November 2, 1920. Prior to his execution, Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, spent time in the prison quarters to show solidarity with the mutineers and draw inspiration for India, which like Ireland was still under colonial rule. Private Daly’s remains were returned to Ireland in 1970, on the 50th anniversary of the mutiny. Kevin Kelly Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland

🌍🏃♂️ 🏃♀️The embassy is proud to have participated in the Global Solidarity Run 2024 at lovely Nehru Park, led by Ambassador Kevin Kelly! On October 19th, 2024, people around the world will come together in an act of global solidarity with those living through forced displacement and extreme poverty. The Global Solidarity Run, organized by Sanctuary Runners, allows everyone to run, jog, or walk any distance as part of one global team. Let your feet do the talking! Wear blue if you can, and share your images and videos on social media with #GlobalRun2024. You can also log your contribution on Strava by logging your run in the ‘Sanctuary Runners’ club—it’s free! Let’s unite for this important cause! 💙🏃🏃♀️🇮🇪 #globalrun2024 Kevin Kelly Irish Aid Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland Sanctuary Runners

🎉 Introducing: Ireland at Durga Puja 2024 🎉 As part of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and India, we are thrilled to unveil a one-of-a-kind cultural collaboration at Durga Puja 2024, blending the artistic spirits of both nations in a celebration like no other. 🇮🇪🇮🇳 Durga Puja, one of India’s largest public arts festival, has long been a symbol of feminine power, creativity, and community. This year, Ireland joins in this vibrant celebration, bringing with it an infusion of Irish art and culture into the heart of India’s most iconic festival. In an exciting fusion of mythologies, artists from Macnas, Ireland’s renowned performance and visual arts company, have teamed up with Behala Nutan Dal, one of Kolkata’s most celebrated Puja committees and lead artist Sanjib Saha, to create a joint pandal that will feature both the Celtic goddess Danu and the Hindu goddess Durga. This magnificent installation will highlight the shared themes of feminine strength, creation, and protection found in both Irish and Indian traditions. Through this symbolic collaboration, visitors will witness the coming together of two powerful cultures, reimagining ancient stories for a modern world. The pandal will be open to visitors from October 6 - 13 at 16, Shashi Bhushan Mukherjee Road, Behala, Kolkata 700034. We warmly invite everyone to visit this unique collaboration. Join us in experiencing the magic of Ireland-India friendship through art, culture, and mythology! This groundbreaking project has been made possible with the support of the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Culture Ireland, and Honorary Consul Mr. Mayank Jalan for West Bengal. It also reflects the hard work, commitment, and unwavering support of the talented Irish and India artists who worked tirelessly in Kolkata, who have dedicated themselves to bringing this vision to life. Come and be a part of this extraordinary celebration that will elevate Durga Puja to a global stage, making it a true testament to art, culture, and unity! 🌍🎨 'Kevin Kelly' Macnas - Spectacle Theatre Company

Pleased to celebrate the launch of the Education in Ireland Roadshow at the residence last night. This roadshow will be a fantastic opportunity for students in India to meet face-to-face with representatives from Ireland's top universities and colleges. Join us in New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, and Bengaluru to explore a wealth of academic programs, scholarship options, and insights into studying in Ireland. Take the first step towards a transformative educational experience—don’t miss out! Education in Ireland Enterprise Ireland 'Kevin Kelly'

As we get closer to Durga Puja, hear from Johnny, Richard, Lisa Sweeney from Macnas and Sanjib Saha from Behala Nutan Dal on their experience working together 🇮🇪🇮🇳 Stay tuned to learn more about this unique collaboration that brings Ireland and India together on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations 🇮🇪🇮🇳 Only 4 days to go 👀 Macnas - Spectacle Theatre Company Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland 'Kevin Kelly' #IrelandIndia75 #durgapuja

Listen in as Johnny O’Reilly and Richard Babbington from Macnas dive into the collaboration with Behala Nutan Dal and artist Sanjib Saha for Kolkata Durga Puja 2024! 🎭 Celebrating 75 years of Ireland-India diplomatic relations, this project showcases a unique work of art - featuring the Hindu Goddess Durga and the ancient Celtic Goddess Danu - representing feminine power and the rich cultural values shared by Ireland and India. 🇮🇪🇮🇳 'Kevin Kelly' Macnas - Spectacle Theatre Company #IrelandIndia75

Press Release🚨 The Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi is proud to announce a unique cultural collaboration at Kolkata’s iconic Durga Puja festival, where 🇮🇪 & 🇮🇳 artists will jointly create a spectacular pandal at the Behala Nutan Dal.