LAST weekend should have been a great occasion for the Irish in Wales, in particular for the new consul general, Conor O'Riordan and his deputy Brendan Hannigan. O'Riordan was sent out from Iveagh House in October to set up shop in Cardiff where the new Welsh assembly will sit from the end of May. The rugby weekend should have been the occasion to throw open the doors and entertain all and sundry. Instead they had to decamp to London, where the game was played, as Cardiff Arms Park is being redeveloped, and instead of hosting their own party attended an eve of match reception given by the Ambassador, Ted Barrington for the centenary of London Irish rugby club.
Last year's Government decision to open consulates in Cardiff and Edinburgh follows the commitment in the Belfast Agreement to balance North/South developments by expanding east/west relations. Instead of concentrating on London, it was decided to branch out into the new devolving areas. O'Riordan's job, and that of the consul general in Edinburgh, Dan Mulhall, is to win friends and influence people.
The new 60-member assembly will be elected on May 6th; it will have a Labour majority and be almost 50 per cent female - amazing in the land of boyos and rugby - because of the Labour party's gender quota at selection level. It will replace the Secretary of State for Wales, so the opportunity exists to develop links in the European, agriculture and trade areas.
O'Riordan says it's a shame the venue for the match wasn't Cardiff and he couldn't host a function to make the consulate's presence known. But he hasn't been idle. Three weeks ago, the Lord Mayor, Marian Drake, hosted a black-tie civic dinner at the city hall to welcome the Irish to Wales and O'Riordan also threw a big Christmas party.
The consulate is in temporary offices at present. It is seeking quality premises in a good area, with good neighbours. Then there will be a formal opening by, it is expected, a minister from Dublin.