Embassy Newsletter - Summer 2025

2025 has been a special year, with Poland holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Over six months Poland has hosted 22 Ministerial level meetings, and over 300 official meetings.

There has been much to discuss. Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine has continued, and Poland has focused its Presidency on the issue of security. There has been strong agreement across Europe that we need to invest more in security and defence, further support to Ukraine, and new sanctions against Russia.

With a challenging economic environment, Europe also needs to improve its competitiveness. Ministers have discussed ways to reduce bureaucracy, to improve the functioning of the single market, and to improve our connections in transport, energy, and finance.

Ireland has played a very active part in these discussions. Sixteen Irish Ministers and dozens of senior officials have attended meetings in Poland over the last six months. I’m very grateful to the Polish government for their tremendous hospitality and professionalism throughout the Presidency, and to my own team at the Embassy for delivering so many successful visits.

While the Presidency has brought additional demands, the core work of the Embassy has remained. I’m very grateful to my colleagues covering Consular issues, who have assisted many Irish citizens in need these past six months, including some extremely difficult cases. These aren’t issues we can talk about publicly, but they represent the most important work that we do.

One of the most poignant moments this year was the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin joined other world leaders for a deeply moving ceremony on 27 January. It was humbling to listen to survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau, including Marian Turski, who sadly passed away just a few weeks later. Their testimony was a reminder that battling against hatred, intolerance, and indifference remains a constant, pressing obligation.

We’ve continued to follow closely developments in Polish politics, including the Presidential elections which took place in May and June. We continue to engage closely with the Polish government on the key issues facing Europe, as well as deepening our bilateral relationship. Our trade and investment ties continue to go from strength to strength, with two way bilateral trade now worth over €8.5 billion. It has been wonderful to meet so many Irish companies operating with great success in Poland.

I also wish to bid farewell to Tonia Spollen, Director of Enterprise Ireland’s office in Poland since 2021. Tonia has been a wonderful colleague, and a key member of Team Ireland. I appreciate the excellent collaboration between Enterprise Ireland and the Embassy, especially trade missions led by Irish government ministers in recent years. I wish Tonia well on her next assignment with Enterprise Ireland in Brussels.

One of the major highlights of the first six months of the year have been two of our National Days – St. Brigid’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day. On St. Brigid’s Day we celebrated with a fantastic concert from female performers from Poland and Ireland, playing traditional folk music. On St. Patrick’s Day we enjoyed a series of events, including a screening of the film “Steps of Freedom”, and a business mixer. One of the highlights was a St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Łódź. It was wonderful to attend and meet hundreds of Polish people enjoying Irish dance, music, food and culture.

It is those connections between our countries which make the Irish-Polish relationship truly special. One cold evening in January, while looking for somewhere to eat in Pyrzowice, I found a place called the “Avoca Bistro”. I entered from a snowy street to find walls covered in photos of Wicklow, and a very friendly Polish owner who had worked for 12 years in Ireland, before returning home to open his own restaurant.

All over the country, it has been a pleasure to find these connections: people who have lived in Ireland, or who have relatives there, or who simply love Irish culture. It is these connections which make working in Poland so enjoyable, and which are making the links between our countries stronger each year.

Patrick Haughey
Ambassador of Ireland to Poland

Poland’s Presidency of the European Union commenced on 1 January 2025 and brought with it an unprecedented number of official visits to Poland.

With war continuing in Ukraine, geopolitical uncertainty, and economic instability, the Polish Presidency prioritised the theme of security across multiple policy areas.

During the Presidency, some 300 meetings were held across 24 cities in Poland. The Embassy was directly involved in supporting Irish attendance at 52 of these meetings – everything from providing guidance on flights and hotels, to providing transport, hosting meals and briefings, setting up additional programmes, or attending the meetings to take the note.

April was the busiest month, with 16 meetings, including the largest meeting of the Presidency, the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Economic and Financial Affairs and Central Bank Governors. The Embassy supported the logistics for the visiting delegation, which was led by Minister Paschal Donohue in his capacity as Minister for Finance and President of the Eurogroup.

In May, the Embassy supported the visit of Minister Neale Richmond and accompanying delegates for the Informal Foreign Affairs Council, which was followed by a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Ukraine.

We are grateful to the Polish Presidency for the fantastic cooperation in hosting so many visits. There is plenty Ireland can learn from Poland’s approach ahead of our own EU Presidency in 2026. In May, six of our colleagues from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade visited Warsaw for a ‘lessons learned’ briefing organised by the Polish Presidency.

With the Presidency baton now passed on to Denmark, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our Polish colleagues for their excellent organisation, especially all the fantastic liaison officers we had the pleasure to work with over the past six months. We congratulate Poland on a very successful Presidency of the EU!

On 27 January, leaders from around the world gathered to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Ireland was represented by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. You can read more about the commemorations here.

Speaking ahead of the commemoration, the Taoiseach said:

"It is a particular honour to be here at what is probably the last significant anniversary at which survivors of the camps will be present in person. Though they are now all advanced in years, their memories of what happened in the camps - the profound loss of their family members and the destruction of Europe’s vibrant Jewish communities - remain crystal clear and vivid."

"We owe it to them to ensure that now, and for all generations to come, we remember and say never again."

The Heaney-Miłosz Residency

In January, Irish poet Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe was selected for the next Heaney-Miłosz Residency – a writer-in-residence programme celebrating the friendship between Nobel Laureates Seamus Heaney and Czesław Miłosz.

The Residency – a partnership between the Estate of Seamus Heaney, the Kraków Festival Office (KBF), and the Irish Embassy in Poland – will take place in Kraków, Poland, from September this year. Read more about the Residency here.

Bloomsday and Beyond

In June, the Embassy of Ireland in Poland, in partnership with the Polish Association of Irish Studies (PAIS), donated over 100 book titles from some of Ireland’s most loved writers to universities across Poland. The book donation was a part of the annual Bloomsday programme “Bloomsday and Beyond”.

You can read more about book donation here.

One Dublin One Book

On 7 May, the Embassy of Ireland was honoured to welcome Irish author Deirdre Madden to an online event in conversation with Professor Leszek Drong, of Silesian University.

The event marked 20 years of One Dublin One Book - a Dublin City Council initiative, led by Dublin City Libraries. Each year, readers are encouraged to read a book connected with Ireland’s capital city.

You can read more about One Dublin One Book here.

St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for tens of millions of people with Irish heritage around the world – as well as friends of Ireland– to join in a celebration of Ireland and the literature, music, culture, history and outlook on life that have shaped our island.

Visit by Minister O’Sullivan

Ireland has a tradition of Ministers travelling around the world on St. Patrick’s Day, and in Poland, we welcomed Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan.

In addition to his bilateral engagement with his counterpart from the Polish government, Minister O’Sullivan also met with representatives of the Irish community living in Warsaw, and enjoyed an excellent cultural evening organised by the Irish students at the College of Europe, in Natolin. Read more about the visit here.

Saint Patrick’s Day reception

This year, for the Embassy’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day reception, we welcomed guests to Kino Muranow for a documentary that charted how Irish dancing has developed over the centuries. “Steps of Freedom” was warmly received by our audience.

Bernard O’Connor Award

The Bernard O’Connor Award celebrates those who have made a significant contribution to friendship, cooperation and understanding between Ireland and Poland.

The 2025 Bernard O’Connor Award was awarded to Krzysztof Schramm.

Speaking after presenting Krzysztof with the Award, Ambassador Haughey said:

“For over thirty five years, Krzysztof has made an enormous contribution to building the links between Poland and Ireland. Along with his wife Justyna, they have reached thousands of people across Poland, sharing their knowledge and love of Ireland. We are hugely grateful for his efforts, and he is a very worthy winner of the Bernard O’Connor Award.”

Read more here.

Pytanie na Śniadanie

On the morning of Saint Patrick’s Day, Ambassador Haughey was pleased to join popular breakfast television programme "Pytanie na Śniadanie" on TVP2, where he told viewers all about Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations across the world.

Saint Patrick at school

As Saint Patrick’s Day approached, Ambassador Haughey visited XXIII Liceum im. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie in Warsaw.

The Ambassador told students about the history of Ireland and St. Patrick, and answered questions on Irish culture and traditions. Students took part in a quiz about Ireland, where they showed excellent knowledge about Irish history and geography!

You can read more about the visit here.

In Ireland, 1 February marks the celebration of Lá Fhéile Bríde, St. Brigid’s Day.

This year, at the National Museum of Ethnography in Warsaw, the Embassy celebrated St. Brigid’s folk origins with a concert showcasing the best of Ireland and Poland’s traditional folk music.

You can learn more about the event, and our musicians, here.

2025 UNHCR field visit to Lublin

In February, Deputy Head of Mission, Brendan Farrell, participated in a UNHCR field visit to Lublin along with colleagues from other embassies in Poland. They visited a volunteer centre for refugees, an accommodation centre, and a Polish Red Cross warehouse. Read more about this visit here.

Rose of Tralee Delegation in Łódź

In February, a group of volunteers from the Rose of Tralee, and Chernobyl Children International visited Łódź, where they volunteered at an orphanage for Ukrainian children. They brought supplies donated by people in Ireland. Ambassador Haughey met with the delegation in Łódź. You can read more about this visit here.

Economic study visit to Wielkopolska

In April, Deputy Head of Mission, Brendan Farrell, along with economic counsellors from other embassies in Warsaw, participated in an economic study visit to the Wielkopolska voivodeship, organised by the Polish Chamber of Commerce. Read further details of the visit here.

Kraków Film Festival

This year the 65th edition of the Kraków Film Festival took place. The Festival included a ‘Focus on Ireland’, which featured seven excellent Irish documentaries. Some of Ireland’s best filmmakers were showcased here in Poland. To mark the occasion, the Embassy hosted a lunch for filmmakers and the Festival’s leadership.

Warsaw student intercultural day

In May, students from the Medical University of Warsaw held the third edition of the Diversity X WUM Festival – an intercultural celebration organised by students from diverse backgrounds to showcase the richness of cultures from around the world. The Embassy of Ireland was delighted to support the stand organised by Irish students at the University. More about the event here.

Parada Równości

In June, the Embassy team was proud to join Parada Równości again this year.

Ireland was also proud to join other diplomatic missions and multilateral organisations in Warsaw in signing an open letter in support of the LGBT+ community in Poland. The letter was presented to Minister for Equality, Katarzyna Kotula, and Deputy Ombudsman, Wojciech Brzozowski.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is undertaking an extensive consultation process to inform the Government’s new Diaspora Strategy.

In order to understand the issues of importance to Irish communities overseas, we want to hear from as many members of the diaspora as possible, as well as from those who have recently returned to Ireland so that our new strategy meets their needs, and can also adapt to evolving circumstances.

[Survey is now closed]

Conference on international parental child abduction

In June, the Embassy’s consular team attended an annual conference on missing children and international parental child abduction.

The conference, organised by the ITAKA Foundation, offered a valuable opportunity to connect with experts in a vital area of our work.

Passports

Passport Online is the fastest way to apply for your or your child’s passport or passport card, from anywhere in the world.

This secure and convenient service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on a smartphone, tablet or personal computer.

Make sure your passport is valid – to renew it online visit the Passport Online site.

Please make sure that you apply for the Passport Card at the same time.

Citizen Registration

We encourage all Irish residents of Poland to register with the Embassy via our Citizens' Registration platform. This allows us to reach you in case of emergency. You can also sign up to receive news about upcoming events in Poland. Register here.

As ever, we encourage you to follow travel advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can find that here.

Women in Business / St. Brigid’s Day

Towards the end of January, to mark St. Brigid’s Day, Enterprise Ireland organised a Women in Business networking event to celebrate the invaluable contribution of female leaders in the development of Irish-Polish trade relations. The event was attended by 40 top Irish and Polish businesswomen, representing variety of sectors including healthcare, pharma, ICT, engineering, education, construction services, biotech and banking. Ambassador Haughey delivered opening remarks, noting how St. Brigid is today celebrated in Ireland as a symbol of women’s empowerment. Other speakers included Bianka Winiarska from the Women in Tech Summit, Agnieszka Tynel from PM Group, Ewa Rekosz from Mazowiecki Klaster ICT, and Katarzyna Pąk from Ericsson, all of whom shared their experiences and best practices on how to support women in their professional and private roles, highlighting the importance of mixed gender teams and the role of women in shaping business culture.

Irish-Polish AI Forum

In March, Enterprise Ireland organised an Irish-Polish AI Forum in Warsaw. The event featured a number of presentations focused on the AI landscapes in Ireland and Poland, and its uses in cybersecurity and education. Participating companies included Galvia AI, Bakotech, Xpanse AI and Enovation Polska.

St. Patrick’s Day business networking event

In March, Enterprise Ireland together with the Irish-Polish, American, Canadian and British Chambers of Commerce, organised a St. Patrick’s Day business networking event in Warsaw. Guests were treated to Irish food and beverages provided by generous sponsors, as well as a performance by local Irish dancers. Around 300 guests attended.

Visit to Higher Education Institutions in Ireland

In June, Enterprise Ireland organised a visit for representatives from the Polish education sector to Higher Education Institutes in Ireland. The focus of the visit was to promote Ireland as a destination for undergraduate studies. The group from Poland visited Dublin Business School, Dublin City University, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Griffith College, Trinity College Dublin and Atlas Language School.

The Irish Polish Chamber of Commerce is a friendly and outward-focused Chamber, run by a dedicated group of volunteers. It acts as a focal point for the Irish business community in Poland as well for Irish people living in Poland and Polish nationals with Irish connections. Working frequently with the Irish Embassy and Enterprise Ireland, the Chamber performs this function by regularly organising networking meetings and social events – which include family events in May and December in Warsaw – and business mixers with other chambers of commerce as well as business and economic briefings throughout the year. Whether you are an entrepreneur in Poland or a professional working in an organisation, the Irish Chamber of Commerce offers a ready-made community of friendly, approachable and interesting people whose love of Poland is matched only by their special connection to Ireland. Membership is open to individuals as well as businesses, with very reasonable annual fees that offer excellent value. To find out more about us and potentially join the Chamber community, check out our website at www.irishpolish.pl and get in touch with Ruairi at ruairi@irishpolish.pl.

Consumer Rights workshop

On 5 March, the Irish Polish Chamber of Commerce and Hansberry Tomkiel law firm hosted a workshop devoted to the recent practices of the Polish Competition Authority (UOKiK) regarding digital markets. The workshop was conducted by lawyers, Małgorzata Krasnodębska-Tomkiel and Grzegorz Materna. Participants had the opportunity to learn about and discuss UOKiK’s role in regulating online sales of products and services; recent UOKiK decisions; and investigations regarding consumer protection issues. Case studies of competition protection cases in digital markets were presented, as well as examples of ways to mitigate risks and reduce the likelihood of a UOKiK investigation.

Corporate Branding workshop

On 29 May, attorneys of the Hansberry Tomkiel law firm, together with the Irish Polish Chamber of Commerce, hosted a Corporate Branding breakfast workshop at the Embassy of Ireland in Warsaw entitled "Prevent Copying! How to Build (and Maintain) a Strong Brand." The workshop focused on how to effectively prevent the infringement of intellectual property (IP) rights, what makes a brand strong, and how to ensure it stays protected. Two of Hansberry Tomkiel's lawyers, Natalia Basałaj and Dorota Podsiedzik-Malec, explained effective IP protection strategies and shared numerous real-life cases from their practices. The morning featured a lively debate, thoughtful questions, and a valuable exchange of practical insights and experiences.