The trees lining Frankfurt\u2019s river Main glow in autumnal yellows and reds, but in a stylish office suite seven floors up, German-Irish relations are enjoying a second spring.<\/p>\n
On Friday, after a long search, Ireland\u2019s new consulate general in Germany<\/a>\u2019s financial capital opened its doors in a permanent premises with spectacular river and city views that put working from home in the ha\u2019penny place.<\/p>\n Covering an entire floor with airy working spaces and a generous event\/reception space, consul general Ann-Marie O\u2019Brien told guests the five-strong Irish team had been \u201cbowled over by the warmth of the welcome and depth of support\u201d since the consulate first opened, in a temporary premises, in 2019.<\/p>\n \u201cSince opening, we\u2019ve worked to deepen engagement and exchange between Ireland and this part of Germany,\u201d said O\u2019Brien, who previously served as consul in Edinburgh and has worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs\u2019 trade<\/a> and security policy units.<\/p>\n Her consulate is responsible for the federal states of Hesse, Saarland and Rheinland-Palatinate, home to 11.5 million people \u2013 more than the population of Sweden.<\/p>\n About 3,500 Irish citizens are registered in this region with strong bilateral ties to Ireland, from the 18th century Palatine emigration to Ireland and today\u2019s local GAA club partnership with Eintracht Frankfurt.<\/p>\n On hand to cut the green ribbon was Ireland\u2019s Ambassador to Germany, Maeve Collins, and the man paying for it all: Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe<\/a>, clearly enthused by what he saw.<\/p>\n \u201cBricks-and-mortar foundations are how you develop further layers to any diplomatic relationship,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Donohoe said Ireland\u2019s network of consulates general, opened in recent years as part of the Global Irish initiative, were \u201crecognition that our Irish communities have become so big in parts of the world and become so important to us\u201d.<\/p>\n