The Irish ambassador to France, Niall Burgess, will be in Nice on March 17th for Saint Patrick’s Day. He will participate in official meetings and the festivities organized in the city.
Niall Burgess, the Irish ambassador to France, will be in Nice on Monday, March 17, 2025, for Saint Patrick’s Day. He assumed his role as the Irish ambassador to France and Monaco in December 2021. Before that, he was, among other roles, the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs from April 2014 to September 2021.
This official visit includes institutional meetings, interactions with students, and a tribute to an Irish poet.
The ambassador will be welcomed at the town hall by Magali Altounian, the deputy in charge of European Affairs. The ceremony will begin at 10:30 AM with the presentation of the bowl of Irish shamrocks, a diplomatic distinction marking the friendship between Ireland and France.
A day of exchanges and festivities
After this formal exchange, Niall Burgess will address students in international relations. Two topics will be discussed: Franco-Irish relations within the European Union and career paths in diplomacy.
The morning will conclude with the unveiling of a plaque in tribute to John Montague, an Irish poet who spent the end of his life in Nice, at 31 rue d’Angleterre.
The day will continue with festivities organized by the municipality and the Direct Europe Center of the Metropolis. Rue Bonaparte and Place du Pin will host activities, concerts, and performances by Irish musicians. A concert of traditional music will be followed by a DJ set. This celebration will bring together merchants, local residents, and members of Nice’s English-speaking community.
