アイルランド日本協会の年次晩餐会
令和8年5月15日
アイルランド日本協会年次晩餐会で挨拶するニール・カウイ同協会会長（令和8年5月撮影）
アイルランド日本協会年次晩餐会で挨拶するピーター・バレットSMBCアビエーション・キャピタル最高経営責任者（令和8年5月撮影）
5月15日、ダブリン市内において開催されたアイルランド日本協会の年次晩餐会は、ニール・カウイ同協会会長の挨拶で始まり、ピーター・バレットSMBCアビエーション・キャピタル最高経営責任者によるご自身の体験に基づく日アイルランド交流に関する演説で締めくくられました。
会場には、2017年の日・アイルランド外交関係樹立60周年の際に駐日アイルランド大使を務めたアン・バーリントン大使、日アイルランドの企業、法曹界、文化教育関係者等が参加し、同協会の1年間の活動を振り返りながら、親交を深める機会となりました。
在アイルランド日本国大使館からは、小野崎専門調査員が神楽「豊栄」の舞を演じ、また、宮川大使が、昨年の同協会の外務大臣表彰を称え、日アイルランド関係を展望する祝辞を述べました。大使館は、2027年の日・アイルランド外交関係樹立70周年に向けて両国の友好親善関係を益々深められるよう、アイルランド日本協会と共に活動していく考えです。
【Address by Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu】
Mr Neil Cowhey, Chairperson of the Ireland Japan Association, Her Excellency Ms Anne Barrington, former Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, Mr Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is my great honour and pleasure to join you this evening together with my wife, Noriko. Over the past year, Ireland and Japan have enjoyed the steadfast development of our relations. Since last year, the Taoiseach and eight Ministers have visited Japan. Many Irish and Japanese people have deepened our ties and mutual understanding through Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, the JET programme, and the Japanese TV drama featuring Lafcadio Hearn among others. Irish products—including grass-fed meat, whiskey, and pharmaceuticals—are widely exported and highly valued in Japan. In the Irish market, Japanese automobiles remain popular, and about 120 Japanese companies of various sizes create approximately 10,000 jobs across Ireland.
The IJA has always played a vital role in making our bilateral relations rich and resilient. I would like to once again extend my heartfelt congratulations on the Association’s receipt of the Foreign Minister’s Commendation last year. Most recently, the Embassy of Japan was delighted to co-host, together with the IJA, an excellent panel discussion on artificial intelligence, moderated by Mr Raymond Hegarty, Vice Chairman of the IJA.
Now ladies and gentlemen, this July, Ireland will assume the EU Presidency. Seven years have passed since the entry into force of the Japan–EU Economic Partnership Agreement. At a time when we observe increasingly unpredictable movements towards policies such as “Made in Europe” or the “Industrial Accelerator Act” led by some European countries, the voices and joint actions of Ireland and Japan will become ever more important. We will continue to count on Ireland.
On a brighter note, I am pleased to highlight that the first consultation between JAXA and the European Space Agency on future cooperation in space—including data sharing to address climate change—was held in March. In February, Ireland opened the European Space Agency’s first R&D laboratory in Co. Westmeath. Research and development, particularly in the space sector, will become increasingly important and represent a promising new frontier for Japan–Ireland cooperation. Space is closely interconnected with fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and climate action.
Last but not least, looking ahead to next year, the Embassy of Japan in Dublin and the Embassy of Ireland in Tokyo have opened applications for a joint Irish–Japanese logo to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, from 1 May to 30 June. Japan Airlines has kindly offered a return ticket between a European city and Tokyo, and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will kindly fund another return ticket between the European city and Dublin for the winner of this competition. I wish all applicants the very best of luck.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
会場には、2017年の日・アイルランド外交関係樹立60周年の際に駐日アイルランド大使を務めたアン・バーリントン大使、日アイルランドの企業、法曹界、文化教育関係者等が参加し、同協会の1年間の活動を振り返りながら、親交を深める機会となりました。
在アイルランド日本国大使館からは、小野崎専門調査員が神楽「豊栄」の舞を演じ、また、宮川大使が、昨年の同協会の外務大臣表彰を称え、日アイルランド関係を展望する祝辞を述べました。大使館は、2027年の日・アイルランド外交関係樹立70周年に向けて両国の友好親善関係を益々深められるよう、アイルランド日本協会と共に活動していく考えです。
【Address by Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu】
Mr Neil Cowhey, Chairperson of the Ireland Japan Association, Her Excellency Ms Anne Barrington, former Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, Mr Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is my great honour and pleasure to join you this evening together with my wife, Noriko. Over the past year, Ireland and Japan have enjoyed the steadfast development of our relations. Since last year, the Taoiseach and eight Ministers have visited Japan. Many Irish and Japanese people have deepened our ties and mutual understanding through Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, the JET programme, and the Japanese TV drama featuring Lafcadio Hearn among others. Irish products—including grass-fed meat, whiskey, and pharmaceuticals—are widely exported and highly valued in Japan. In the Irish market, Japanese automobiles remain popular, and about 120 Japanese companies of various sizes create approximately 10,000 jobs across Ireland.
The IJA has always played a vital role in making our bilateral relations rich and resilient. I would like to once again extend my heartfelt congratulations on the Association’s receipt of the Foreign Minister’s Commendation last year. Most recently, the Embassy of Japan was delighted to co-host, together with the IJA, an excellent panel discussion on artificial intelligence, moderated by Mr Raymond Hegarty, Vice Chairman of the IJA.
Now ladies and gentlemen, this July, Ireland will assume the EU Presidency. Seven years have passed since the entry into force of the Japan–EU Economic Partnership Agreement. At a time when we observe increasingly unpredictable movements towards policies such as “Made in Europe” or the “Industrial Accelerator Act” led by some European countries, the voices and joint actions of Ireland and Japan will become ever more important. We will continue to count on Ireland.
On a brighter note, I am pleased to highlight that the first consultation between JAXA and the European Space Agency on future cooperation in space—including data sharing to address climate change—was held in March. In February, Ireland opened the European Space Agency’s first R&D laboratory in Co. Westmeath. Research and development, particularly in the space sector, will become increasingly important and represent a promising new frontier for Japan–Ireland cooperation. Space is closely interconnected with fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and climate action.
Last but not least, looking ahead to next year, the Embassy of Japan in Dublin and the Embassy of Ireland in Tokyo have opened applications for a joint Irish–Japanese logo to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, from 1 May to 30 June. Japan Airlines has kindly offered a return ticket between a European city and Tokyo, and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will kindly fund another return ticket between the European city and Dublin for the winner of this competition. I wish all applicants the very best of luck.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
アイルランド日本協会年次晩餐会で司会を務める三島理恵同協会理事（令和8年5月撮影）
アイルランド日本協会年次晩餐会で神楽「豊栄」を舞う小野崎在アイルランド日本国大使館専門調査員（令和8年5月撮影）
アイルランド日本協会年次晩餐会で挨拶する宮川学駐アイルランド日本大使。スクリーンにあるのは、2017年の日・アイルランド外交関係樹立60周年を記念するロゴ。（2026年5月撮影）
アイルランド日本協会年次晩餐会で挨拶する宮川学駐アイルランド日本大使。（2026年5月撮影）