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Embassy of the United Kingdom, Dublin

Coordinates:53°19′30″N6°13′26″W/ 53.3251°N 6.2238°W/53.3251; -6.2238
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Embassy of the United Kingdom, Dublin
Map
LocationBallsbridge,Dublin
Address29Merrion Road,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4, D04 P272,
Ireland
Coordinates53°19′30″N6°13′26″W/ 53.3251°N 6.2238°W/53.3251; -6.2238
AmbassadorPaul Johnston
WebsiteBritish Embassy, Dublin

TheEmbassy of the United KingdominDublinis the chiefdiplomatic missionof theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandinIreland.The Embassy is located onMerrion Roadin theBallsbridgearea of the city. The currentBritish Ambassador to IrelandisPaul Johnston.[1]

History[edit]

Although theIrish Free Statewas established in 1922, the United Kingdom did not have a diplomatic mission of its own. The only British representation in the State was that of the Trade Commissioner, first appointed in 1929.[2]

The British Embassy's front gate, as seen from Merrion Road.

By contrast, theIrish High Commission(now the Embassy of Ireland) in London was established as early as 1923.[3]

It was not until 1939 that a separate mission, known as the British Representative's Office, was finally established.[4]Following the passing of theRepublic of Ireland Actby the Oireachtas in 1948, under which Ireland withdrew from theCommonwealththe following year, the mission was renamed the British Embassy, with its head restyled Ambassador.

Until 1972, the embassy was located at 39Merrion Square,on thesouthsideof Dublin city center.[5]On 2 February of that year, it wasburnt to the groundwith petrol bombs during demonstrations by large crowds of people.[6]This occurred following theBloody Sundaymassacre inDerryon 30 January, where theBritish Army'sParachute Regimentshot and killed fourteen unarmed Catholic civilians during a civil rights demonstration.[7]

In 1981, protesters tried to storm the British Embassy in response to theIRA hunger strikesof that year.[8][9]

The current embassy building onMerrion Roadwas built in 1995 and designed byAllies and Morrison.It is built around a central courtyard, a cloister-like space.[10]

Following the death ofHer Majesty Queen Elizabethon 8 September 2022, the President of IrelandMichael D. Higgins,accompanied by TaoiseachMicheál Martinand Foreign Affairs MinisterSimon Coveney,attended the British Embassy in Dublin to sign their condolences.[11]

Ambassador's residence[edit]

British Ambassador's residence,Glencairn House

The British Ambassador's official residence in Dublin isGlencairn House,located on Murphystown Road. Glencairn House has been the official residence of successive British Ambassadors to Ireland since the 1950s.[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Johnston, Paul."Mr Paul Johnston - GOV.UK".gov.uk.Retrieved8 November2018.
  2. ^The Chemical Trade Journal and Chemical Engineer: A Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Commercial Aspect of the Chemical and Allied Industries,Volume 84, Kelville Davis Davis Bros. (C.T.J.) Limited, 1929, page 520
  3. ^Documents on Irish Foreign Policy: 1939-1941,Department of Foreign Affairs, Royal Irish Academy, 2008, page xix
  4. ^Defending Ireland: The Irish State and its Enemies since 1922,Eunan O'Halpin, OUP Oxford, 1999, page 151
  5. ^Whitaker's Almanack,J. Whitaker & Sons, 1972, page 795
  6. ^Hoggart, Simon (3 February 2015)."From the archive, 3 February 1972: British Embassy petrol bombed in Dublin".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved23 February2023.
  7. ^"1972: British embassy in Dublin destroyed".BBC On This Day.2 February 1972.Retrieved15 March2015.
  8. ^"1981: Violence erupts at Irish hunger strike protest".BBC On This Day.18 July 1981.Retrieved27 July2017.
  9. ^"The Hunger Strike of 1981 – A Chronology of Main Events".CAIN.Archivedfrom the original on 31 May 2007.Retrieved26 May2007.
  10. ^"1995 – United Kingdom Embassy, Merrion Road, Dublin".archiseek /.20 January 2010.Retrieved15 March2015.
  11. ^"Charles formally declared British King as Elizabeth's funeral details released".TheJournal.ie.Press Association. 10 September 2022.Retrieved23 February2023.
  12. ^"Residence Manager British Ambassador's Residence Dublin (IRL21.326) - FCO Local Posts".fco.tal.net.Retrieved23 February2023.
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