Minister Indranee Rajah and NParks arranged for Minister Hildegarde Naughton to plant a tree in Singapore Botanic Gardens to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Singapore, contributing to Singapore’s One Million Trees initiative.

Minister and organized a tree-planting ceremony in the Singapore Botanic Gardens to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Singapore. The event, attended by Minister of State for Health Ms. Hildegarde Naughton, highlights the longstanding warm relations between the two countries. The tree planted, a Silver-leafed Ebony, is an endangered species native to Singapore, adding to their numbers and supporting Singapore’s One Million Trees initiative.

Singapore and Ireland established diplomatic relations in 1974, with historical ties dating back to the founding of modern Singapore. Over the years, relations have strengthened, driven by economic cooperation and people-to-people ties. The Irish community in Singapore, consisting of over 3,000 nationals, has contributed significantly to Singapore’s development in areas such as education, urban planning, and the arts.

Source: Irish Embassy Singapore

The Embassy of Ireland hosted a delightful celebration in honour of St Brigid’s Day, marking the onset of spring and embracing the spirit of Lá Fhéile Bríde

THE Embassy of Ireland, commemorated St Brigid’s Day on Thursday, 1st February 2024. The event was held at the Residence of the Ambassador of Ireland, H.E. Sarah McGrath, amidst a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all who attended.

Ambassador McGrath extended a cordial invitation to guests for an evening of networking, drinks, and canapés, providing an opportunity to celebrate the cultural significance of St Brigid’s Day. This event was not only a festive occasion but also served to raise awareness and honour the achievements of remarkable women.

To enhance the recognition of extraordinary women, attendees were encouraged to bring along an early career female colleague or friend as their guest for the evening. This gesture aimed to spotlight and support the endeavors of women in various fields.

St Brigid’s Day, celebrated annually on February 1st in Ireland, signifies the advent of spring and the festivities of Lá Fhéile Bríde. In 2024, the day held special significance as it coincided with Monday, February 5th, marking the first bank holiday of the year.

The celebration, held at the the Ambassador’s Woollerton Park residence, was a testament to the Irish Embassy’s commitment to fostering warm ties, celebrating cultural traditions, and recognizing the accomplishments of women in various stages of their careers.

The Irish Embassy in Singapore marked St. Patrick’s Day on 16th March 2023 with a vibrant celebration that included music, dance, and traditional Irish cuisine. The event was attended by a large number of people including Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, Mr. Tan Kiat How, who represented Singapore at the occasion. This year’s reception was particularly special as it was the first time the new ambassador of Ireland to Singapore, H.E. Sarah McGrath, hosted a National Day reception, which was held at Conrad Centennial Hotel.

SIGNIFICANCE of St. Patrick’s Day: St. Patrick’s Day is an important cultural and religious celebration for the Irish people. It is celebrated on 17th March every year and marks the death of Saint Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland. The holiday is celebrated not just in Ireland but all over the world, with parades, festivals, and events that showcase Irish culture and heritage. The significance of St. Patrick’s Day lies in its ability to bring people of all backgrounds and nationalities together in a celebration of Irish culture and identity.

2019 Embassy Activities Round-Up

Ireland – Singapore: Strong Friendship andÌý Enriching Engagement

Minister S Iswaran hosted Ireland’s Minister for Business and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, with a trade mission of some 40 companies to Singapore in March 2019

A longstanding relationship which continues to be nourished by deepening investments in people-to-people interactions between the two nations

2019 was a busy year for the team at Ireland House in Singapore.Ìý The priority of the team, led by Ambassador Patrick Bourne, is to enhance the already strong friendship between Singapore and Ireland and to highlight all the great advantages that Ireland has to offer as a place to do business, invest, study and holiday.Ìý

The National Day event on St Patricks Day, March 17th, was, as always, one of the most popular and enjoyable events of the diplomatic calendar.Ìý It was attended by Ireland’s Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, and featured a showcase of sumptuous Irish food and drink products.

Ambassador Bourne (5th from left behind the counter) welcomed a significant delegation of Irish cutting-edge Fintech firms in November 2019

Two-way trade and investment was top of the agenda when the visiting Irish Minister met Minister S Iswaran during her visit.Ìý Trade between Ireland and Singapore grew to more than S$10 billion, and the Ireland House team, which includes personnel from Enterprise Ireland and the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) Ireland played host to an ever-growing traffic of Irish investors and innovators during 2019, including at the Fintech Festival in November.

Culture and the arts are very special calling-cards for Ireland and the Embassy engaged in an extensive programme of high-quality and high-profile events during the year to promote cultural links and exchanges with Singapore. The inaugural Irish Film Festival, in October, introduced the movie-lovers of the ‘Red Dot’ to the movie-makers of the ‘Green Dot’, and was a great success.Ìý On the literature front, the Irish Embassy

Teelings Irish Whiskey – the Spirit of Dublin

celebrated the classics – James Joyce’s Ulysses on Bloomsday – and the contemporary, with a visit by best-selling author John Connolly in August.Ìý As for music from Ireland, it can be covered in two characters… U2!Ìý Ambassador Bourne and his team were really proud to welcome Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry for their first-ever Singapore concerts as a very busy year drew to a close. As they say in Ireland, ‘Sláinte, meaning good heath to all of you for the New Year ahead.