Outline of the Government of Ireland harp on a green background.

Team Ireland in Germany

Working with Irish State Agencies

The Consulate General of Ireland in Munich works with a number of Irish State Agencies to promote trade and investment between Ireland and the regions of Bavaria and Baden Württemberg and to promote Ireland as a place to visit and in which to invest.

Germany is Ireland’s:

4th largest merchandise trading partner
3rd largest export market for Irish food and drink
2nd largest source of Foreign Direct Investment after the USA
3rd most important holiday market to Ireland

The Embassy works closely with the Irish State Agencies to promote continued growth in these areas. The Ambassador chairs the Germany local market team.

We can:

Support Irish companies who want to find and access new markets and help with resolving commercial difficulties where possible
Provide general advice on doing business locally including to German companies seeking to source Irish products and, through our network of contacts, pursue export and investment opportunities that will benefit Ireland
Work to secure market access for Irish products in key sectors
Promote Ireland as a location for tourism and for investment

Consul General James C. O'Shea

James C. O’Shea took up duty in August 2024 as Ireland’s first Consul General in Munich, with responsibility for the German federal states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

Before his assignment in Munich, James C. served as Deputy Director of the United Nations and International Financial Institutions Unit in the Development Cooperation and Africa Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Prior to that, James C. was Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland in Tel Aviv. He has also served at Ireland’s Embassy in Moscow and at its multilateral missions to the United Nations in Geneva (working on disarmament and on human rights) and to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, where he was lead official on conflicts during Ireland’s 2012 OSCE Chairmanship. In earlier assignments at Headquarters, he has worked on Asia/Oceania, human rights, United Nations reform and international security policy. He has also worked for the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna as head of the Caucasus desk, and has undertaken a secondment to Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

James C. is a graduate of University College Cork (B.C.L., LL.M.) and of the Honourable Society of the King’s Inns, Dublin (Barrister-at-Law).

Deputy Consul General Kate Hall

Kate took up her current assignment as Deputy Consul General in August 2024. Kate works closely with the Consul General and other members of the Consulate team across a range of areas, leading on public diplomacy, consular affairs and engagement with the Irish community. Immediately prior to taking up duty in Munich, Kate served in the Protocol Division of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, organising State and Official Visits, as well as Official Hospitality.

Kate holds a BA in Applied Languages (German, French and Spanish) from the University of Limerick and an MA in EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges.

Tara Baynes

Tara joined the Consulate team in March 2025. She is originally from Mayo, Ireland, but has been living abroad for several years, moving from Bavaria to Brussels and now back to Bavaria again. Her main responsibilities at the Consulate relate to public diplomacy and outreach, as well as supporting the provision of consular service. Prior to joining the team, Tara worked as a parliamentary assistant and later as a HR representative in the European Parliament.

Tara holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (International) from the University of Galway, and an LL.M. Eur. in European Law from Julius Maximilians Univeristät, Würzburg.

Deirdre Weber

Deirdre joined the Consulate team in February 2025. She is originally from Dublin, Ireland, but has been living in the Munich area for several years. Her main responsibilities at the Consulate relate to financial administration, office and property management, as well as supporting the provision of consular service. Prior to joining the team, Deirdre worked as a Conference Manager at the ifo Institute in Munich.

Deirdre has a B.A. (Hons) in International Marketing and Languages (French & German) from Dublin City University.