アイルランド日本協会（IJA）への外務大臣表彰授与
令和8年7月31日
アイルランド日本協会（IJA）への外務大臣表彰授与 左から：中田啓子在アイルランド日本国大使館一等書記官、廣幡幸治次席、グラハム・ホジキンIJA理事、三島理恵IJA理事、キャサリン・グレネル＝ホワイトIJA前会長、レイモンド・ヘガティIJA会長、宮川学大使、ピーター・ヴァンベックIJA理事、エディ・ヒューズIJA理事、グラハム・ライアンIJA理事、典子大使夫人（令和8年7月撮影）
宮川学大使（右）が、レイモンド・ヘガティIJA会長（左）に外務大臣表彰の表彰状を授与する様子（令和8年7月撮影）
7月31日、日本大使公邸において、IJAの長年にわたる日アイルランド経済関係の発展及び相互理解と友好・親善の促進に関する多大なる貢献を讃え、外務大臣表彰の授与式典が行われました。
同式典において、宮川学駐アイルランド大使は、参加したレイモンド・ヘガティIJA会長、キャサリン・グレネル＝ホワイト元会長始めIJA理事会メンバーに対して、祝辞を述べ、表彰状を授与しました。IJAを代表して、ヘガティ会長が答辞を述べました。
在アイルランド日本国大使館は、2027年の日アイルランド外交関係樹立70周年に向けて今後とも、IJAと共に、両国の友好親善関係を深めていく考えです。
【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.
同式典において、宮川学駐アイルランド大使は、参加したレイモンド・ヘガティIJA会長、キャサリン・グレネル＝ホワイト元会長始めIJA理事会メンバーに対して、祝辞を述べ、表彰状を授与しました。IJAを代表して、ヘガティ会長が答辞を述べました。
在アイルランド日本国大使館は、2027年の日アイルランド外交関係樹立70周年に向けて今後とも、IJAと共に、両国の友好親善関係を深めていく考えです。
【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.
宮川学大使（左）が、IJA理事会の皆様に向けてお祝いの挨拶を述べる様子（令和8年7月撮影）
ジェイムズ・ジョイス、ウィリアム・バトラー・イェイツ、オスカー・ワイルドの写真の前で、レイモンド・ヘガティIJA会長（左から1人目）、リチャード・ライアン元 IJA会長（左から3人目）とヘレン・ライアン夫人（左から2人目）と懇談する宮川大使と典子夫人（右）(令和8年6月、潮田記念奨学金贈呈式典にて撮影）
今年の潮田記念奨学金の受賞者であるイザベル・エミリー・ベイツさん（中央）と、ご両親のショーン・ベイツさん（左端）及びジョージーナ・ゴールさん（右端）、宮川学大使（右から2人目）、そして潮田博士夫妻の孫であるキアン・潮田氏（左から2番目）（令和８年６月撮影）
JET参加者に対して、アイルランド日本協会（IJA）の活動について紹介する同会長のレイモンド・ヘガティ氏（令和8年6月撮影）
宮川大使と第40期JET参加者の皆さん（令和8年6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）
在アイルランド日本国大使館とアイルランド日本協会共催による人工知能に関するパネル・ディスカッションでモデレーターを務めるレイモンド・ヘガティIJA副会長（当時）（令和8年3月撮影）
キャサリン・グレネル＝ホワイト・アイルランド日本協会会長（中央）、宮川学駐アイルランド日本大使（右）、中田啓子在アイルランド大使館一等書記官（左）（令和8年1月撮影）