Brainy Brendan

Former Department of Foreign Affairs. Now international affairs observer! Reposts are not endorsements just interesting observations.

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

Pleasure to attend Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Autumn School Bruff, Co Limerick. Excellent presentations on range of issues + keynote address by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, daughter of Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy. Tks to organisers + participants for stimulating + interactive weekend.

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

@JohnPaulKa67357 @TourismIreland @galwaytourism @InaghLodge @LConemara Indeed Paul and hope you are enjoying!! Greetings from Amsterdam!

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

Nice return to Hoge Veluwe National Park + visit to Kroeller Muller Museum housing second largest collection of Van Gogh’s works. No wolves (controversial presence) in sight but lots of deer and wild boars. Pleasant return to Jachthuis St Hubertus as well!!

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

We were delighted to organise a St Patrick’s Day get together in Amsterdam at the great Helig Leven in Amsterdam and to welcome our Ambasssdor Ann Derwin and the Heads of Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland with many Irish and Dutch friends.

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

@CarinaBrien Yes well…,,,,,

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

Here we go back to see ADO Den Haag defeat Helmond 3-1. A good win in the freezing fog of the Bingoal Stafium!! Great to see Mike Smyth of the Irish Embassy again!

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

@KellyinDelhi @CauveryMadhavan @KeralaLitFest @JaipurLitFest @NamitaGokhale_ @cultureireland @dfatirl @IrlEmbIndia @SanjoyRoyTWA @janeohlmeyer I went to her excellent launch in Bantry and met her before that when she spoke at Neimegan University in the Netherlands. Excellent novelist and very warm personality.

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

10 years ago today I placed Irish wreath + Honorary Consul of Ireland to Thailand, Helene Fallon Wood, to commemorate those who died in Tsunami 2004. 10 years earlier in 2004 Irish people did us proud with their generosity to tragedy as many times before and since. #Tsunami2004

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

Delighted to visit VU- Vrije University Amsterdam with good friend + former colleague Dr Tim O’Connor for his lecture on Good Friday Agreement (Belfast Agreement). Well received by the students + many thanks to Professor of International Security Dr Wolfgang Wagner.

[Irish Embassy Thailand @IrlEmbThailand]

Great day out at Verso for the first day of the Asian Gaelic Games 2024! Beir bua!

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

Brilliant evening meeting up again with Fureys in Amsterdam during their tour of the Netherlands. Great concert as always!!

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

@IEAmbThailand Was a great pleasure to be your colleague for many years!!! Congrats and great commitment to public service.

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

Hello York and nice to be there for the Monet in York Exhibition!

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

First trip to the City of York and to view the Monet in York Exhibition at York Gallery. Nice city and must return!!

[Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda @IEAmbUganda]

I was happy to return to St Paul Kabindo school in Kiboga, and meet the head teacher, I had witnessed the laying of the foundation stone in 1999, by the then Amb. Brendan Rogers. We did a quick calculation, over 10,000 children attended this school over the years. #30yearsIRLUG

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

Pleasure to meet again Prof. Padraig O’Malley UMASS Boston. His latest work “Perils and Prospects for a United Ireland” now out. One of the most insightful observers on Northern Ireland. His seminal work “The Uncivil Wars - Ireland Today”very influential. Good to see you Padraig!

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

What a pleasure to have one of Ireland’s foremost poets Paula Meehan at the Irish Embassy in The Hague reciting and giving voice and context to a selection of her work. Wonderful evening.

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

Congratulations to Rosie Murphy on her graduation from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and thank you for all your performances at the Embassy in The Hague. Best of luck for the future!

[Ambassador of Ireland in Thailand @IEAmbThailand]

Sister Louise Horgan marks her 90th birthday today.  A missionary for 73 years, she has devoted the last 59 years to vulnerable women and children in Thailand.    Honoured to present a special message from President Higgins to mark the occasion.

[Brainy Brendan @brainybrendan]

Great to be present at the Bingoal Stadium as ADO Den Haag go through to the next playoff match. Last 10 minutes nail biting stuff against De Graafschaap! Whew!