List of ambassadors of Ireland to Canada
| Ambassador of Ireland to Canada | |
|---|---|
 Coat of Arms of Ireland | |
Incumbent since August 2016Jim Kelly | |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Inaugural holder |
|
| Formation |
|
| Website | Embassy of Ireland, Ottawa |
The Ambassador of Ireland to Canada is the head of the Embassy of Ireland, Ottawa, and the official representative of the Government of Ireland to the Government of Canada.
The incumbent Ambassador is Jim Kelly who was appointed in August 2017.
History
In 1929, the Irish Free State planned to open a diplomatic mission in Ottawa, but these plans were later shelved.
In 1939, Canada and the Irish Free State opened High Commissions in each other's capitals. The first High Commissioner of the Irish Free State to the Dominion of Canada was John Hearn.
In 1949, the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 came into force and Ireland became a republic, leaving the Commonwealth. In 1950, Ireland appointed its first Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, Seán Murphy, as the High Commission also converted into an embassy.[1]
List of representatives
High Commissioners (1939-1949)
- 1939–1949: John Hearne
Ambassadors (1949–present)
- 1950–1955: Seán Murphy
- 1955–1956: Leo McCauley
- 1956–1960: Thomas Kiernan
- 1960–1964: William Fay
- 1964–1967: John Aloysius Belton
- 1967–1970: William Warnock
- 1970–1973: Joseph Shields
- 1974–1978: Paddy Power
- 1978–1983: Sean Kennan
- 1983–1988: Sean Gaynor
- 1988–1991: Edward Brennan
- 1991–1995: Antóin MacUnfraidh
- 1995–2001: Paul Dempsey
- 2001–2006: Martin Burke
- 2006–2010: Declan Kelly
- 2010–2016: Ray Bassett
- 2016–2020: Jim Kelly
- 2020- : Eamonn McKee