Consul General of Ireland, Melbourne

A chairde / Dear friends,

Welcome to the website of the Consulate General of Ireland in Melbourne.

The Consulate was established in 2026 as part of the Global Ireland initiative, a whole-of-government strategy to double the scope and impact of Ireland’s global engagement beginning in 2018.

The remit of the Consulate in Melbourne includes Victoria and Tasmania. Working in close cooperation with the Embassy of Ireland in Canberra, the Consulate General of Ireland in Sydney, and with Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and Tourism Ireland, Team Ireland promotes Irish interests across Australia.

A key part of our role is supporting the vibrant Irish community in Victoria and Tasmania. I look forward to meeting many members of the Irish community and friends of Ireland during my time as Consul General.

As the Consulate completes our set-up processes, we will progressively take over responsibility for consular services in Victoria and Tasmania. This website contains information about the work of the Consulate and the services we provide, as well as the work of our colleagues at the Embassy of Ireland in Canberra, the Consulate General of Ireland in Sydney, and the Irish State Agencies working in Australia, which I hope you will find useful.

Please note that some consular services, including visas, continue to be provided by the Embassy of Ireland in Canberra.

You can follow us on X @IrlCGMelbourne and you can also follow the work of the Consulate General on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Marie-Claire Hughes was appointed as Consul General of Ireland in Melbourne in January 2026, and is delighted to serve as Ireland’s first ever Consul General in Melbourne.

Prior to her arrival in Melbourne, Marie-Claire was previously assigned to Ireland’s Embassies in Canberra, London and Lilongwe. At the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin, she has served in the Development Cooperation and Africa Division and in the Ireland, UK and Americas Division.

Marie-Claire is looking forward to trying as many of Melbourne’s famous restaurants as possible and to exploring Australia’s natural beauty over the course of her posting.