Leading the way in USA - Consuls in Miami and New York from Kilkenny

Two women from Kilkenny are currently representing Ireland in leading diplomatic posts in the USA.

Sarah Kavanagh has recently taken up the newly-created post of Irish Consul based in Miami, Florida, and Helena Nolan is the serving Irish Consul in New York.

Miami is a new location for an Irish Consulate, with Sarah Kavanagh taking up the role just last October.
As the new office becomes established it will take over consulate responsibilities for the states of Alabama and Mississippi along with Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean.

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From Galmoy, in north Kilkenny, Ms Kavanagh is the daughter of long-serving Kilkenny County Councillor Mary Hilda Cavanagh.
She holds a Barrister-at-Law Degree (2012) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies (2010) from the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Dublin. She also holds Masters Degrees in Political Communication and Politics and a BA Degree in History and Politics .

Ms Kavanagh moves to Miami from the Human Rights Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin where she served as Deputy Director.
Prior to joining the Department in 2020, Ms. Kavanagh served as Special Adviser to the Minister for Justice and Equality (2017-2020) and Special Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (2014-2017). From 2005-2014, she worked for in the Houses of the Oireachtas in a range of policy, strategy development and political communication roles.

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Meanwhile, further up the East Coast of America, Helena Nolan has been the Irish Consul in New York since August 2021.
Also from Co Kilkenny, her consulate office has responsibility for the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

She joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1990, after seven years in the Department of Education.
Over the course of her career, Helena has held a wide number of roles at home and overseas, most recently serving as Ireland’s Ambassador to Belgium and the Partnership for Peace Liaison Office (2017-2021).

Prior to her appointment to this role, Helena served as Director for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the Department’s headquarters in Dublin and was a regular visitor to the UN in New York.
She has also served in London, Armagh, Kuala Lumpur and Dar Es Salaam, as well as working in the Departments of Education and Enterprise and the Office of Science and Technology.

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Consular offices promote and protect Irish interests through their work with Irish communities in their regions. They promote Irish economic interests and support strong partnerships between the USA and Ireland.
Locals in the office locations contact consulates for information about Ireland, or travelling here. Consuls are also a point of contact for Irish citizens abroad who may be in need of consular assistance.