Foreign Minister's Commendation Conferred on the Ireland Japan Association (IJA)
2026/7/31
From left: Ms NAKATA Keiko, First Secretary; Mr HIROHATA Koji, Deputy Head of Mission; Mr Graham Hodgkin, IJA Council Member; Ms Rie Mishima, IJA Council Member; Ms Catherine Grennell-Whyte, IJA Ex-Officio Member; Mr Raymond Hegarty, IJA Chairperson; Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu; Mr Peter Vambeck, IJA Council Member; Mr Eddie Hughes, IJA Council Member; Mr Graham Ryan, IJA Council Member; Mrs MIYAGAWA Noriko, wife of Ambassador MIYAGAWA. (Photo taken in July 2026)
Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu (right) presenting the certificate of the Foreign Minister’s Commendation to IJA Chairperson Mr Raymond Hegarty (left). (Photo taken in July 2026)
On 31 July, a presentation ceremony for the Foreign Minister's Commendation for FY 2025 was held at the Official Residence of the Ambassador of Japan to Ireland in recognition of the Ireland Japan Association's (IJA) longstanding and significant contribution to the development of Japan–Ireland economic relations, as well as to the promotion of mutual understanding, friendship, and goodwill between the two countries.
During the ceremony, Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu delivered congratulatory remarks and presented the commendation certificate to the IJA through Mr Raymond Hegarty, Chairperson of the IJA, in the presence of Ms Catherine Grennell-White, former Chairperson, and members of the IJA Council. On behalf of the Association, Chairperson Hegarty delivered the acceptance speech.
Looking ahead to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland in 2027, the Embassy of Japan in Ireland looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with the IJA to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and goodwill between the two countries.
【Ambassador's remarks】
Good evening, everyone.
I am very pleased to welcome you all to my Residence. Thank you so much for joining us this evening.
We have gathered here tonight to celebrate, once again and formally, the presentation of the Foreign Minister's Commendation 2025 to the Ireland Japan Association.
For many years, the IJA has contributed to the development of economic relations between Japan and Ireland. The Association has also deepened mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill between the Irish and Japanese peoples through its vigorous cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
I would like to offer my apologies that this ceremony has had to wait for so many months since last summer for various reasons.
However, thanks to the positive spirit of the IJA, the Embassy of Japan, and all our Irish and Japanese friends, from last summer until today there have been excellent events and exchanges almost every month, or even more frequently, as far as I know.
To name but a few, I remember fondly that the IJA co-hosted an AI Panel Discussion with the Embassy of Japan in March. The preparations began at my first meeting with Ms Catherine Grenell-Whyte, then Chairperson, at the Embassy on our first working day in January. The panel was moderated by Mr Raymond Hegarty, then Vice-Chairperson, while Catherine and Mr Neil Cowhey, then Chairperson-designate, were also present among many distinguished guests.
In April, the IJA cooperated in the successful Japan Film Festival, featuring 17 films across Ireland.
In May, I was delighted to attend the IJA Annual Dinner and meet so many friends of Japan.
In June, here at this Residence, the IJA and the Embassy bade farewell to this year's JET Programme participants before their departure for Japan.
I was also grateful for the opportunity to say a few words to this year's Dr and Mrs Ushioda Scholarship recipient at the ceremony hosted by the IJA, and also my wife Noriko and I were honoured to talk with Mr Richard Ryan, who was IJA Chairperson 20 years ago, and Mrs Helen Ryan.
I am sure we will carry on with such heart-to-heart exchanges in the future.
Last but not least, I have to announce some sad news. One of our most trusted friends will complete her second posting at the Embassy of Japan in Ireland after serving here for four years. Ms Nakata Keiko will move to her next posting in August.
Most recently, we successfully selected three winning designs from over 250 entries for a joint logo to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland. Keiko also played an important coordinating role in this selection process.
Now, dear friends, it is time for us to reflect with gratitude on the achievements of our predecessors and to renew our shared commitment as we look towards—and beyond—the 70th anniversary.
It is now my great pleasure and honour to present the Foreign Minister's Commendation to the Ireland Japan Association through its Chairperson, Mr Raymond Hegarty.
During the ceremony, Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu delivered congratulatory remarks and presented the commendation certificate to the IJA through Mr Raymond Hegarty, Chairperson of the IJA, in the presence of Ms Catherine Grennell-White, former Chairperson, and members of the IJA Council. On behalf of the Association, Chairperson Hegarty delivered the acceptance speech.
Looking ahead to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland in 2027, the Embassy of Japan in Ireland looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with the IJA to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and goodwill between the two countries.
【Ambassador's remarks】
Good evening, everyone.
I am very pleased to welcome you all to my Residence. Thank you so much for joining us this evening.
We have gathered here tonight to celebrate, once again and formally, the presentation of the Foreign Minister's Commendation 2025 to the Ireland Japan Association.
For many years, the IJA has contributed to the development of economic relations between Japan and Ireland. The Association has also deepened mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill between the Irish and Japanese peoples through its vigorous cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
I would like to offer my apologies that this ceremony has had to wait for so many months since last summer for various reasons.
However, thanks to the positive spirit of the IJA, the Embassy of Japan, and all our Irish and Japanese friends, from last summer until today there have been excellent events and exchanges almost every month, or even more frequently, as far as I know.
To name but a few, I remember fondly that the IJA co-hosted an AI Panel Discussion with the Embassy of Japan in March. The preparations began at my first meeting with Ms Catherine Grenell-Whyte, then Chairperson, at the Embassy on our first working day in January. The panel was moderated by Mr Raymond Hegarty, then Vice-Chairperson, while Catherine and Mr Neil Cowhey, then Chairperson-designate, were also present among many distinguished guests.
In April, the IJA cooperated in the successful Japan Film Festival, featuring 17 films across Ireland.
In May, I was delighted to attend the IJA Annual Dinner and meet so many friends of Japan.
In June, here at this Residence, the IJA and the Embassy bade farewell to this year's JET Programme participants before their departure for Japan.
I was also grateful for the opportunity to say a few words to this year's Dr and Mrs Ushioda Scholarship recipient at the ceremony hosted by the IJA, and also my wife Noriko and I were honoured to talk with Mr Richard Ryan, who was IJA Chairperson 20 years ago, and Mrs Helen Ryan.
I am sure we will carry on with such heart-to-heart exchanges in the future.
Last but not least, I have to announce some sad news. One of our most trusted friends will complete her second posting at the Embassy of Japan in Ireland after serving here for four years. Ms Nakata Keiko will move to her next posting in August.
Most recently, we successfully selected three winning designs from over 250 entries for a joint logo to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ireland. Keiko also played an important coordinating role in this selection process.
Now, dear friends, it is time for us to reflect with gratitude on the achievements of our predecessors and to renew our shared commitment as we look towards—and beyond—the 70th anniversary.
It is now my great pleasure and honour to present the Foreign Minister's Commendation to the Ireland Japan Association through its Chairperson, Mr Raymond Hegarty.
Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu (left) offering his congratulatory remarks to the members of the IJA. (Photo taken in July 2026)
Ambassador MIYAGAWA and his wife Noriko (right) speaking with Mr Raymond Hegarty, IJA Chairperson (first from left), Mr Richard Ryan, former IJA Chairperson (third from left), and his wife Mrs Helen Ryan (second from left), before pictures of James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, and Oscar Wilde (Photo taken on the occasion of Dr and Mrs Ushioda Scholarship in June 2026)
The recipient of this year’s Dr and Mrs Ushioda Scholarship, Ms Isabelle Emily Bates (centre) with her parents Mr Sean Bates (first from left) and Ms Georgina Gaul (first from right); Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu (second from right); and Mr Cian Ushioda, grandson of Dr and Mrs Ushioda (second from left) (Photo taken in June 2026)
Mr Raymond Hegarty of the Ireland Japan Association (IJA), discusses the organisation’s activities with the JET participants in 2026 (Photo taken in June 2026)
Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu with the 2026 JET participants (Photo taken in June 2026)
Ms ONOZAKI, Researcher at the Embassy of Japan in Ireland performing a "Kagura" dance at the annual dinner of the Ireland Japan Association (Photo taken in May 2026)
The Artificial Intelligence Panel Discussion co-hosted by the Embassy of Japan and the Ireland Japan Association moderated by Mr Raymond Heagaty of the IJA (far left) (Photo taken in March 2026)
Ms Catherine Grennell-Whyte, then-Chairperson of Ireland Japan Association (centre), Japanese Ambassador-designate MIYAGAWA Manabu(right) and Ms NAKATA Keiko, First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Ireland (left) (Photo taken in January 2026)