Consulate history

Find out more about the Consulate's history, including when we opened and former Consuls General

The Consulate General of Ireland in Scotland was established in Edinburgh in 1998, following the process of devolution set in motion the previous year, when Scotland voted for the establishment of a parliament in Edinburgh. The Government of Ireland gave formal approval for the opening of the Consulate General in June 1998, and set out the following objectives for the Consulate's work:

• To monitor the parliamentary work of the Scottish Parliament;
• To develop economic links and monitor inward investment and trade;
• To report on thinking on EU affairs and identify common interests;
• To monitor developments for cooperation with the devolved institutions within the British-Irish Council; and
• To improve the consular service to the Irish community in Britain.

The Consulate has been located at its current premises at 16 Randolph Crescent since 1999.

Learn more about the history of the Department of Foreign Affairs and our collaboration with the Royal Irish Academy's Documents on Irish Foreign Policy project.