Embassy Newsletter - Summer 2026

1 July 2026 marked an important moment for Ireland, as we took on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months. This will be Ireland’s eight Presidency of the EU.

Acting as Presidency of the EU is always a position of great responsibility, and carries particular weight at a time when there are so many challenges facing Europe.

Ireland will have three main priorities for its Presidency: security, competitiveness, and values.

First security. Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine is now in its fifth year. Ireland believes that Europe needs to continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. Many countries, including Poland, have also experienced the impact of Russia’s hybrid war, including drone incursions, arson attacks, disinformation, cyber attacks and attacks on critical infrastructure. It is clear that Europe must invest more in our security, and increase our cooperation across the EU.

Secondly, competitiveness. Europe faces an increasingly challenging international economic environment. One of our greatest strengths is the single market of 450 million people, but we are not using this to its full advantage. Ireland wants to bring forward work on a package of measures – the One Europe, One Market Roadmap. We want to deepen the financial, digital, transport and energy links across the EU. And we want to see progress in reducing bureaucracy and burdensome regulation.

Our third priority is values. The values on which the EU rests – democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech, are under attack from populism, external interference, and efforts to undermine governance. We must defend these values, and also extend them to other countries by supporting the enlargement of the EU.

Here in Embassy Warsaw, we have been preparing extensively for the Presidency with consultations between our governments. Over the last six months, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan and Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne have all visited Poland for discussions with their counterparts in the Polish government. Our consultations showed how closely aligned Ireland and Poland are on all the key issues facing Europe.

During the course of the Presidency, the Irish Embassy will have a coordinating role among the EU Embassies in Poland, and arrange regular meetings with senior figures in Poland. We hosted the first of these in July, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sikorski. We’ll also have some cultural elements, including a concert of traditional Irish music in September.

Sadly for me, as our Presidency begins, my time in Poland is coming to a close.

Serving as Ambassador of Ireland to Poland has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life. I’m proud of what we have done as an Embassy to deepen the links between our two great countries.

We have had very extensive political engagement: over my four years here the Embassy has organised 87 visits of Prime Ministers, Ministers, or senior officials.

I’m very grateful to the Consular team at the Embassy, who have consistently provided support to Irish people in need, including dealing with some very difficult issues.

Trade between Ireland and Poland has flourished, and now stands at over €10 billion. It has been a pleasure meeting so many Irish companies operating with great success all over Poland.

What has made this role particularly special and memorable is the incredible people I have met. I’ve been fortunate to travel to all sixteen regions of Poland, and get to know the history, culture, politics, and cuisine of this amazing country.

As I’ve travelled, it has been fantastic to meet so many people with direct connections to Ireland, many of whom have lived there in the past, and who retain strong affection for Ireland. I’m confident that thanks to these people-to-people connections, the links between our countries will continue to flourish.

I will greatly miss Poland. With my wife and two sons, we have created so many happy memories, that we will treasure for our whole lives. We have met so many amazing people, and it has been a pleasure coming to work every day with such helpful, committed, talented and supportive colleagues.

Poland will always be in my heart – I wish this country and its amazing people every happiness and success.

Patrick Haughey
Ambassador of Ireland to Poland

On 1 July, Ireland assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eight time. In an op-ed in Rzeczpospolita, Taoiseach Micheál Martin outlined the themes of the Irish Presidency setting out what Ireland hopes to achieve during this six-month period.

The Embassy launched Ireland’s EU Presidency with a reception at the Ambassador’s residence for representatives of the Polish government, the diplomatic corps, as well as other Embassy contacts. Secretary of State at Poland’s Foreign Ministry, Ignacy Niemczycki, spoke at the event emphasising the close links between Poland and Ireland and our alignment across many files on the European agenda.

Ireland’s Presidency will also entail regular meetings of senior Polish officials with EU Ambassadors in Warsaw. We were delighted to host Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski in July, as he spoke to EU Ambassadors on a wide range of issues. The meeting served to embody the motto for Ireland’s EU Presidency: "Ní neart go cur le chéile” (“Strength with Unity”).

To mark Ireland’s EU Presidency, a concert will take place on 14 September at Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.

The concert, entitled Tonnta na hEorpa, is the story of shared European culture that will be told in a one-hour stage show with musicians Cormac Begley (concertina) and Liam O’Connor (fiddle), Brían MacGloinn (voice, guitar), Louise Mulcahy (Uileann Pipes), Sophie Ryan (Harp), Seamas Hyland (accordion) and dancer Stephanie Keane.

Tonnta na hEorpa is an initiative from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in partnership with the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA). A cultural project, as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it will be presented by a number of Irish embassies across Europe.

Availability of tickets for the public will be announced via embassy communications channels.

Ireland’s Presidency was preceded by a number of high-level visits from the Government, including:

- A visit by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to Warsaw on 31 March. An Taoiseach met with his counterpart, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, to discuss our priorities ahead of the Presidency.

Both agreed on the importance of boosting Europe’s competitiveness, including by simplifying regulation. They also discussed the importance of cooperating closely to enhance Europe’s security. Read more here.

- A visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee, to Warsaw on 27 April.

The Minister had meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, and separately with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, to discuss Ireland’s priority areas of security, competitiveness and values. Read more here.

- A visit by Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, to Warsaw on 2 June. The Minister met Waldemar Żurek, Polish Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General, and Marcin Kierwiński, Minister of the Interior and Administration.

While in Poland Minister O’Callaghan visited the EU’s eastern border with Belarus, where he received a briefing on the border security situation. Read more here.

- A visit by Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, to Warsaw and Łódź.

The Minister visited Poland for a series of engagements marking St Patrick’s Day, including political meetings, as well as community and cultural events. Read more here.

- In June, the Embassy supported an Irish delegation led by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk. Enterprise Ireland also attended, as did three Irish companies – Kingspan, CRH and Matrix Internet.

As an Embassy, we place an emphasis on building connections not only in Warsaw, but right around the country. In the first half of 2026 Embassy staff made official visits to Tarnów, Łódź, Opole, Szczecin, Zielona Góra and Lubuskie region.

- In Tarnów, the Ambassador met with local authorities to discuss bilateral cooperation between Ireland and Poland. The Ambassador also attended a joint performance between the Dublin Youth Orchestra and Tarnów’s Orkiestra Zespołu Szkół Muzycznych.

- In Łódź, Ambassador Haughey met with a group from Chernobyl Children International and the Rose of Tralee who travelled to Poland to meet with a group of orphans from Ukraine. The Irish visitors brought with them a bus full of donations from Ireland.

- In Opole, the Ambassador had meetings with local authorities to discuss Irish-Polish bilateral relations, and Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. The Ambassador also visited the Museum of Polish Song.

- In Szczecin, Ambassador Haughey also met with local authorities. Separately, he visited the Pomeranian Medical University where he met with Irish students, as well as with the Professors overseeing the English language department.

- In Zielona Góra, the Ambassador met the Voivode (Governor), Deputy Mayor, and representative of the Marshal’s office. Lubuskie is famous for its wine production, and the Ambassador had a tour of the city and some historic cellars, courtesy of Fundacja Tłocznia (wine pressers association).

- Deputy Head of Mission Brendan Farrell visited the Lubuskie Voivodeship, taking part in an economic study tour organised by the Polish Chamber of Commerce. The programme included visits to Zielona Góra, Gorzów Wielkopolski and Nowa Sól, as well as to three companies located in the region.

The Heaney-Miłosz Residency, a writer-in-residence programme celebrating the friendship between Nobel Laureates Seamus Heaney and Czesław Miłosz, is now open for applications.

The Residency offers the chance for an emerging or mid-career writer – resident on the island of Ireland or an Irish citizen living abroad – to spend up to six weeks in the city of Kraków, Poland, in 2027. Following a competitive selection process, the selected writer will stay in the former apartment of Polish poet and writer Czesław Miłosz.

First launched in 2022, the Residency is a partnership between the Estate of Seamus Heaney, the Kraków Festival Office (KBF), and the Irish Embassy in Poland. Previous residents were Alice Lyons in 2023 and Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe in 2025. Further details on the application process can be found here: Call for Applications: Seamus Heaney – Czesław Miłosz Writer in Residence Programme | Kraków UNESCO City of Literature

Following last year's inaugural event, Kraków Celtic Festival will return this September 4-6. Expect a weekend packed with concerts, workshops, and exhibitions, featuring musicians from Poland, Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. The Embassy is proud to be the honorary patron of this event again.

The primary venue will be Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki, with additional events taking place across the city.

Visit the website to learn more and see you in September.

The Bernard O’Connor award is presented annually by the Embassy of Ireland to a person or organisation who has made a significant contribution to strengthening ties between Poland and Ireland.

The 2026 winners of the Award are the Polish Association for Irish Studies (PAIS).

The award acknowledges PAIS's ongoing work in promoting Irish studies in Poland; fostering academic collaboration, and building cultural and scholarly links between Ireland and Poland. The award is a testament to the dedication of the Association's members since its establishment in 2019.

The Embassy marked Bloomsday 2026 with a series of literary events across Poland.

In bookshops around Poland, Polish readers were invited to discover Irish literature through the Embassy’s ‘Bloomsday and Beyond’ campaign. Big Book Cafe (Warsaw), Smak Słowa (Sopot), and Lokator (Kraków) each offered customers the opportunity to ‘Buy One Irish Book, Get One Free’. The appetite for Irish writers, past and present, has never been greater.

Bloomsday celebrations also included a theatrical reading of Episode 17 (Ithaca) from Ulysses at the University of Warsaw Library by actors, Jarosław Gajewski and Jacek Zienkiewicz organised by Waldemar Matuszewski. The reading brought Joyce's masterpiece to life for audiences in Warsaw. Brendan Farrell, Deputy Head of Mission, delivered remarks prior to the performance. The Embassy was pleased to offer its honorary patronage to the event.

Dermot Fitzpatrick, Head of Political, joined academics from around the world at the International James Joyce Symposium, for which the Embassy was pleased to provide funding through the Irish Government’s Irish Studies support programme. This is the first time the Symposium has been hosted in Central Europe. The Symposium brought together globally recognised Joyce academics to Kraków for academic discussions on the Irish writer’s literary legacy.

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.

As ever, we encourage you to follow travel advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I arrived in Warsaw to commence my posting at the Embassy in April 2022. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine less than two months earlier, I was immediately struck by the incredible compassion, solidarity and practical support provided by Poles to Ukrainian refugees. Long lines of Ukrainians disembarking trains in Warsaw were met with blankets, clothes, food and information on how to access shelter and other essential services. Not only that; thousands of Poles opened their homes to refugees providing them with a place to stay and essentially welcoming them as part of their family. The generosity shown by Poles to their neighbours in need will be an abiding memory.

Part of my job at the embassy has been to lead on economic affairs. In doing so I have had the privilege of meeting many representatives of Irish businesses operating in Poland, all playing their part to create employment, prosperity and enhance bilateral relations between our two countries. I have enjoyed working with Team Ireland colleagues from Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia to support their endeavours. I offer special thanks to Irish businesses who have so kindly supported embassy events over the years.

A particular pleasure has been visiting different regions of Poland, meeting local government officials and businesses and learning about the economies, as well as the culture and history, of these regions. The passion demonstrated by those I met for their region and country - and the skills and creativity they bring to their businesses - makes it unsurprising to me that Poland has become one of the world’s top-20 economies, attaining a trillion dollar GDP, as well as being invited to the G20 as an observer.

Another highlight of my posting in Warsaw has been the opportunity to support a record high number of visits from Irish ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials – all made easier by excellent support from Polish ministries. I can say with absolute certainty that all visitors returned to Ireland with an even greater appreciation for Poland.

Such positive impressions are also reflected in the people-to-people links between our countries. It has been heartening to hear glowing feedback about Ireland from many Poles who either lived there previously, or have friends and family members who have done so. Polish people’s knowledge of and appreciation for Irish culture, music and literature has often astonished me. This affection is not one-way; a growing number of Irish people now live in Poland with a thriving student population and stronger GAA clubs! It has been gratifying to engage with so many young, optimistic Irish people whose experiences in Poland, whether short or long term, will serve to further grow bonds between our two countries into the future.

I wish to thank all my excellent hardworking colleagues at the embassy for making our workplace such a pleasant and productive environment. I would also like to thank the wonderful friends that my wife and I have made over the years, all of whom have contributed to making our time here so enjoyable. I return to Ireland with only the fondest of memories from what has been the most fulfilling professional experience I have had.

Brendan Farrell
Deputy Head of Mission

St. Brigid’s Day

In February, Enterprise Ireland organised a Women in Business event to celebrate St. Brigid’s Day. St. Brigid, one of Ireland's three patron saints, is a powerful symbol of female creativity, wisdom, and leadership.

The event provided a wonderful opportunity to bring together 40 inspiring women – business leaders, experts, and entrepreneurs representing diverse industries. The afternoon was filled with networking, insightful conversations, and celebrating the impact women have on the business landscape.

A huge thank you to Ireland’s Ambassador to Poland, Patrick Haughey, for hosting such a meaningful gathering!

St. Patrick’s Day Business mixer

Enterprise Ireland, along with the Irish-Polish, American, British, and Canadian Chambers of Commerce collaborated in hosting the annual St. Patrick’s Day Business Mixer, held on 16 March. Around 300 guests enjoyed Irish food, beverages, dancing and live music while making new business connections.

We were particularly delighted that many of our client companies along with their customers and business partners were able to join us, including RKD, Portwest, EI Electronics, MEG | Healthcare Quality Management Software, PPI Adhesive Products (C.E.) s.r.o., Ardmac, PM Group, Ward Personnel Polska, Connect Recruitment, IPL group, CRH, Moocall, JFC Polska, Smurfit Westrock and SEFtec Group.

Enterprise Ireland Director for Poland and the Baltics, John Cosgrave, delivered opening remarks in which he welcomed guests and outlined the extensive collaboration between Irish and Polish businesses. Ambassador Haughey, in his remarks, noted that relations between Ireland and Poland have never been better with trade between our two countries now exceeding €10bn per annum.

Enterprise Ireland presented awards to Irish businesses. EI Electronics received the Rising Star award. The company manufactures carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and commenced operations in Poland in 2025. Its products are sold on Allegro. Portwest were awarded the Best Irish Company of the Year. The company manufactures workwear, safety footwear and personal protective equipment. They have significant investments in southern Poland, with an extensive network of distributors.

Prior to the Business Mixer, Enterprise Ireland arranged a Smart Cities side event which brought together six Irish companies and Polish stakeholders from cities such as Opole, Warsaw, and Zielona Góra.

Visit to Warsaw by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Ms. Helen McEntee T.D.

As part of her visit to Warsaw in April, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Ms. Helen McEntee, met with John Cosgrave and Bartosz Siepracki from Enterprise Ireland as well as representatives of Irish companies active in the Polish market, including PM Group, Kingspan Insulation, Portwest, and Adare SEC (formerly Mailmetrics).

The meeting was hosted by Ambassador Patrick Haughey and provided an opportunity to discuss Irish-Polish business relations as well as wider economic opportunities and challenges ahead of Ireland’s EU Presidency in the second half of 2026.

Kraków Business Mixer & EI visit to PM Group

PM Group has had operations in Poland for almost 30 years and during this time has delivered hundreds of projects across aviation, food manufacturing, data centres and many other sectors for Polish and international investors.

In June, John Cosgrave and Bartosz Siepracki from Enterprise Ireland visited PM Group following the recent opening of their third Polish office in Kraków. There is much more to come for PM Group, given Poland's strong economic growth, talented workforce, and positive perception as an FDI destination.

While in Kraków, the Enterprise Ireland team also attended the international Chambers of Commerce business mixer with local stakeholders and client companies PM Group, RKD Architects and MEG Healthcare.

Ukraine Recovery Conference

In June, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Mr. James Lawless T.D., led Ireland’s delegation at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk. Enterprise Ireland’s John Cosgrave, Bartosz Siepracki and Ukraine pathfinder Sergii Malynovskyi also attended, as did three Irish companies – Kingspan, CRH and Matrix Internet.

Some 7,000 attendees, including several Heads of Government and Heads of State, participated in the conference. Discussions focused on how international partnerships, innovation, and targeted investment can accelerate reconstruction efforts.

Representatives from UkraineInvest (Ukraine’s Investment Promotion Office) kindly hosted Minister James Lawless and Irish companies at their very busy stand. A large number of side events also took place, including one which facilitated Irish-Ukrainian-Polish business networking.

The conference reportedly led to around 170 investment agreements amounting to €9bn.

Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting Irish companies in leveraging their expertise and capabilities to contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, while strengthening commercial ties across the region.

Presidency of the International Group of Chambers of Commerce

The Irish Polish Chamber of Commerce (IPCC) 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, for Irish people living here, and for Polish nationals with Irish connections. Working closely with the Irish Embassy and Enterprise Ireland, the IPCC delivers on this through networking meetings, social events and business mixers with other chambers of commerce, alongside business and economic briefings throughout the year.

For the second half of 2026, the IPCC holds the Presidency of the International Group of Chambers of Commerce (IGCC) in Poland. Over the coming months we will represent the IGCC and coordinate its work. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase Irish talent and entrepreneurial spirit!

Whether you are an entrepreneur in Poland or a professional working in an organisation, the IPCC offers a 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, or to join, visit www.irishpolish.pl or get in touch with the President of the Chamber, Ruairi O’Neill at ruairi@irishpolish.pl.

Irish Music Night with the Sienna Singers!

Mark your calendars for 26 September! Experience five decades of popular Irish music re-imagined through the beautiful choral arrangements of the Sienna Singers.

It’s more than a concert - it’s a fantastic chance for the Polish-Irish community, family, and friends to gather and catch up.

For ticket info, email Michael Kenny at mkenny@multiband-antennas.com

Venue - Sienna Space, Sienna 68/70, Warsaw