![U](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/U.S._Embassy_Chancery_Building_in_Ballsbridge%2C_Dublin_4.jpg)
The United States Ambassador to Ireland is the
ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary
An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
from the
United States of America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...
to
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. It is considered a highly prestigious position within the
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is the primary personnel system used by the diplomatic service of the United States federal government, under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of over 13,000 professionals carryi ...
. The current ambassador is
Claire Cronin.
The
chief of mission
In diplomatic usage, head of mission (HOM) or chief of mission (COM) from the French "chef de mission diplomatique" (CMD) is the head of a diplomatic representation, such as an ambassador, high commissioner, nuncio, chargé d'affaires, permanent ...
for the United States in Ireland held the title of
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
An envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, usually known as a minister, was a diplomatic head of mission who was ranked below ambassador. A diplomatic mission headed by an envoy was known as a legation rather than an embassy. Under the ...
from 1927 through 1950, and six people served in the role.
Since 1950, the title has been ambassador, and 23 people have served in the role.
Only the first envoy,
Frederick A. Sterling, was a career
Foreign Service Officer
A Foreign Service Officer (FSO) is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U ...
– other envoys, and all ambassadors to date, have been non-career appointees.
The first four envoys were commissioned to the
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State ( ga, Saorstát Éireann, , ; 6 December 192229 December 1937) was a state established in December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. The treaty ended the three-year Irish War of Independence between th ...
,
prior to the
formation of the State.
The ambassador and embassy staff at large work at the
Ballsbridge
Ballsbridge () (from historic Ball's Bridge) is an affluent neighbourhood of the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The area is largely north and west of a three-arch stone bridge across the River Dodder, on the south side of the city. Th ...
Chancery of the
Embassy of the United States, Dublin.
Deerfield Residence
The Deerfield Residence (formerly the Chief Secretary's Lodge) is the official residence of the United States Ambassador to Ireland.
The premises has been the Ambassador's Official Residence since 1927, and was previously the Embassy of the U ...
is the official residence of the ambassador, located in the
Phoenix Park
The Phoenix Park ( ga, Páirc an Fhionnuisce) is a large urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its perimeter wall encloses of recreational space. It includes large areas of grassland and tre ...
, Dublin.
Incumbent
The position was vacant from January 2017 through the end of June 2019, with Reece Smyth serving as the ''
chargé d'affaires
A ''chargé d'affaires'' (), plural ''chargés d'affaires'', often shortened to ''chargé'' (French) and sometimes in colloquial English to ''charge-D'', is a diplomat who serves as an embassy's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador ...
'' of the U.S. Embassy in Ireland. The prior ambassador,
Kevin O'Malley
Kevin Francis O'Malley (born May 12, 1947) is an American lawyer and diplomat who was the United States Ambassador to Ireland from 2014 to 2017.
Personal life and education
Kevin O'Malley is a second generation Irish American, with dual citizens ...
, was nominated by
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
and served from October 2014 until the
presidential inauguration A presidential inauguration is a ceremonial event centered on the formal transition of a new president into office, usually in democracies where this official has been elected. Frequently, this involves the swearing of an oath of office.
Examples o ...
of
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
. In December 2016, it was reported that then president-elect Trump intended to name
Brian P. Burns as the next ambassador to Ireland. However, in June 2017, Burns withdrew his name from consideration, due to ill health.
Edward F. Crawford, a businessman and entrepreneur from
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
whose parents were from
Cork
Cork or CORK may refer to:
Materials
* Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product
** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container
***Wine cork
Places Ireland
* Cork (city)
** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...
, was approved to be the next ambassador by the
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
's
foreign relations committee in May 2019, confirmed by a vote of the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
on June 13, 2019, and sworn into office on June 26, 2019. He officially began his term as ambassador upon presentation of his credentials to
President of Ireland
The president of Ireland ( ga, Uachtarán na hÉireann) is the head of state of Republic of Ireland, Ireland and the supreme commander of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Irish Defence Forces.
The president holds office for seven years, and can ...
Michael D. Higgins
Michael Daniel Higgins ( ga, Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, and broadcaster, who has served as the ninth president of Ireland since November 2011. Entering national politics throug ...
on July 1, 2019.
Chiefs of Mission
Envoys
Until 1950, the official title was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
: Commissioned to the
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State ( ga, Saorstát Éireann, , ; 6 December 192229 December 1937) was a state established in December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. The treaty ended the three-year Irish War of Independence between th ...
: Died in office (while in Ireland)
: Promoted to Ambassador
Ambassadors
Since 1950, the official title has been Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
: Died in office (while in the United States)
: Interred in Ireland
: Still living
Other nominees
![U](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/U.S._Ambassador%27s_Residence%2C_Phoenix_Park%2C_Dublin.jpg)
Appointed or nominated, but did not serve.
*W. W. McDowell
:Appointment: September 13, 1933. Commissioned during a recess of the Senate; did not serve under this appointment. Reappointed in January 1934.
*William E. McCann
:Note: Not commissioned; nomination of March 17, 1981, not acted upon by the Senate.
Chargé d’affaires
Interim chiefs of mission.
* Stuart A. Dwyer
:September 2013 – October 2014
* Reece Smyth
:January 2017 – June 2019
* Alexandra McKnight
:January 2021 – February 2022
See also
*
Embassy of the United States, Dublin
*
Deerfield Residence
The Deerfield Residence (formerly the Chief Secretary's Lodge) is the official residence of the United States Ambassador to Ireland.
The premises has been the Ambassador's Official Residence since 1927, and was previously the Embassy of the U ...
– Official residence of the ambassador
*
Ireland–United States relations
According to the governments of the United States and Ireland, relations have long been based on common ancestral ties and shared values. Besides regular dialogue on political and economic issues, the U.S. and Irish governments have official exc ...
*
Foreign relations of Ireland
*
Ambassadors of the United States
Ambassadors of the United States are persons nominated by the president to serve as the country's diplomatic representatives to foreign nations, international organizations, and as ambassadors-at-large. Under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. ...
*
Embassy of Ireland, Washington, D.C.
The Embassy of Ireland in Washington, D.C. is the diplomatic mission of Ireland to the United States. It is located at 2234 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C., at Sheridan Circle, in the Embassy Row neighborhood.
The embassy als ...
References
United States Department of State: Background notes on Ireland
*
External links
United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for IrelandUnited States Department of State: IrelandUnited States Embassy in IrelandTwitter account (verified) of the United States Ambassador to Ireland
{{Ambassadors of the United States
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
*
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
Politics of Ireland