Summer Drinks

Tuesday July 07th was a great evening at the Centre Culturel Irlandais when over 40 NetworkIrlande members gathered to mark several moments, the beginning of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the beginning of the summer season, and most importantly for the association, the launch of our new visual identity.

We were delighted and privileged to welcome H.E. Ambassador Milton and Deputy Ambassador Dearbhla Doyle, alongside NetworkIrlande president Richard Dujardin and Vice-President Orla Noonan and Carole Jacquet of the Centre Culturel Irlandais.

Carole welcomed all the guests and spoke of the incredible cultural programme that the CCI are running over the six months of the presidency. In particular the Focus Ireland programme running at Theatre de la Ville through November and December and the CCI & Marsh's Library exposition Gulliver 300  which will run in September and October. Many thanks To Carole and Marion for bringing members in several small groups up to visit the Heritage Library, a real cultural treat for those who had never seen it before!

Ambassador Milton addressed the group for the first time and highlighted how she has seen the strength of the network since her arrival three weeks earlier. She walked us through the launch of the EU presidency and Ireland’s priorities for the next six months the three pillars of Competitiveness, Values and Security. The presidency will be defined by action and delivery and the guiding principle is Ní neart go cur le chéile – Strength with unity. L'union fait la force.

Ambassador Milton spoke about the deeply challenging current global environment and the importance in Europe of fostering prosperity and wellbeing, upholding the values of the foundation of the EU and protection of our citizens. She went on to explain how Ireland will work towards the completion of accession negotiations, single market reform and the seven-year EU budget.

Ambassador Milton also brought up two key events in the calendar in the coming months the International AI Summit and the Global Bioeconomy Summit , both happening in Dublin in October.

NetworkIrlande President Richard Dujardin then formerly launched NetworkIrlande’s new visual identity. He walked us through the logic of the logo and how it brings together the elements of People, Bridge between our countries, the Celtic chain and the Flow of information and knowledge. Visual explanations were available across the event. Further details are available here. He went on to thank guests for coming and wished us a good networking evening and a wonderful summer!

We wish to thank Conor O’Riain and Ecocem Global for their support of this new identity.