Senior Irish Government Minister, Darragh O’Brien, TD cuts ribbon on the new office.

The Irish Government marked St Patrick’s Day 2025 in a very significant way in central Florida, with a visit by a senior member of the Government and the announcement of a new Honorary Consul.

Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy and Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien TD, cut the ribbon on the new Offices of the Honorary Consulate of Ireland and announced the appointment of Patrick Delaney, partner at RumbergerKirk, as the new Honorary Consul of Ireland in Orlando.

The appointment follows the retirement of long-standing Honorary Consul, Terry Delahunty, who served with distinction for many years.

Minister Darragh O’Brien acknowledged the contribution of Terry Delahunty and welcomed Patrick Delaney, stating:

“Ireland and Florida share a strong and dynamic bilateral relationship. Tens of thousands of Irish tourists visit this state each year, contributing significantly to the local economy. In addition, Irish companies provide employment for nearly 16,000 people across Florida. As I mark this important occasion, I want to express my deep appreciation for Terry Delahunty’s years of dedicated service and warmly welcome Patrick Delaney as Ireland’s new Honorary Consul in Orlando. I look forward to working with him to further strengthen the ties between Ireland and Florida in the years ahead.”

Honorary Consul Patrick Delaney said:

“It is a real honor to have the opportunity to serve Irish citizens who visit this part of Florida – whether that’s as tourists or investors.  The establishment of a fulltime Irish diplomatic mission in Florida has resulted in a major surge in Ireland’s activities here and I am proud to become a member of an ambitious and innovative Team Ireland.  I want to thank my colleagues at RumbergerKirk, and my wife Lindsey for their support.”

The Consul General of Ireland in Miami, Sarah Kavanagh, said:

“We are delighted to have a very capable new Honorary Consul of Ireland located in the heart of downtown Orlando. The provision of timely consular services is core to our operations and Patrick has an excellent support network and great facilities at his office.  My team and I are thrilled to have Patrick on board as part of Team Ireland.”

Notes:

Patrick Delaney’s paternal great-grandparents emigrated from Co. Cork, Ireland to the US in the early 1900s. He was appointed following an open competition by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland.

The role of Honorary Consul of Ireland involves the provision of consular assistance and services to Irish citizens, in line with the consular charter of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The role also involves supporting the full-time diplomatic team based in the Consulate General of Ireland in Miami in the broader development of economic, business and cultural relations in central Florida.

In 2023, the total bilateral merchandise trade between Florida and Ireland was more than $1.5 billion, making Ireland Florida’s sixth-largest bilateral merchandise trading partner in Europe. The Irish Government opened its Consulate General in Florida in October 2022.