Diplomatic mission of Sweden in Ireland
The Embassy of Sweden in Dublin is Sweden's diplomatic mission in Republic of Ireland. When Ireland became independent, Sweden was one of the countries that early established diplomatic relations with Ireland. The embassy has its origins in the legation that was opened in 1946, which in turn has its origins in the Swedish consulate that was opened in 1926. The embassy closed in 2010 and reopened in 2023.
The Swedish embassy in Dublin is tasked with representing Sweden and the Swedish government in Ireland and promoting Sweden's interests. This is done by having a dialogue with Irish representatives and through information and cooperation with the cultural sector, companies and other authorities and organisations.[1]
History
The embassy has its origin in the consulate which the Swedish government decided to open in Dublin in 1926.[2] A petition was received from the Consul General in London, endorsed by the envoy there, in which the Consul General requested that a consulate be established in the Irish Free State or, if this could not be done, that in any case a trade representative be sent there.[2] The reasons given in support of the proposal to strengthen the commercial representation in Ireland had appeared to the minister for foreign affairs to be very weighty; however, under the state's financial situation at the time, he considered himself unable to recommend that special funds be requested for this purpose. However, investigations carried out had shown that the need for strengthened commercial representation in Ireland could be met to a significant extent, then the King in Council was given the opportunity to possibly place the second vice-consul employed at the Consulate General in London to duty in Ireland. The King in Council decided to propose that the Riksdag allow that the salary benefits accrued for a second vice consul at the Consulate General in London should, according to the King in Council's assessment, be used for the salary of a second vice consul stationed in Ireland. This petition was approved by the Riksdag.[2]
The Swedish consulate was subordinate to the consulate general in London[3] and was located 1930–1931 at 5 Upper Ely Place.[4][5]
In the years 1932–1935 it was located at 17 Fitzwilliam Square,[6][7] 1936–1937 at 67 Merrion Square,[8][9] and 1938–1946 at 6 Ailesbury Road in Ballsbridge.[10][11] On 25 February 1946, an Irish delegation arrived in Stockholm to discuss, among other things, the opening of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Ireland and Sweden. On 28 June, Ireland's chargé d'affaires, John Aloysius Belton, arrived in Stockholm. Oscar Thorsing was appointed as Swedish chargé d'affaires in Dublin from 1 July 1946.[12] In October 1959, an agreement was reached between the Swedish and Irish governments on the mutual elevation of the respective countries' legations to embassies. In connection with this, Sweden's envoy in Dublin Leif Öhrvall was appointed ambassador.[13]
In 2010, the Swedish government decided to close the embassy which was part of a Swedish policy to close six European embassies, including Bulgaria, Luxembourg, and Slovenia.[14] From 2010, a Stockholm-based ambassador, who regularly travels to Dublin, was responsible for the bilateral relations between Sweden and Ireland.[15] From 2010, Sweden had an honorary consulate general in Dublin located at 12 Fitzwilliam Place.[16] Sweden's government decided on 3 November 2021 to open an embassy in Dublin.[17] From 1 February 2023, the embassy is located in temporary premises at the Danish Embassy in Iveagh Court on Harcourt Road pending a permanent address.[18]
Buildings
Chancery
In 1948 the chancery was located at 79 Merrion Square, Dublin,[19] 1949–1981, it was located at 31 Merrion Road, Ballsbridge,[20][21] and 1982–2009, it was located in the Sun Alliance House at 13–17 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.[22][23][24] In 2010, the chancery was located at Block E in the Iveagh Court Building, Dublin 2.[25] After the embassy reopened on 1 February 2023, the chancery was once again located at the address Block E, Iveagh Court at Harcourt Road as a temporary solution in the Danish Embassy pending a permanent address.[18]
Residence
The ambassadors residence was built in 1967 was designed by Swedish architect Sten Lindgren and Irish architect Arthur Douglas. It was located at 25 Greenfield Park in Donnybrook, Dublin 4.[14]
In 2008, a downhole heat exchanger system was installed at the residence, a solution that attracted a lot of attention in Ireland. During an opening ceremony on 17 November 2008, Ambassador Claes Ljungdahl showed off the system to colleagues and the Irish press. Among the guests were the director general of the National Property Board of Sweden Bo Jonsson as well as ambassadors from, among others, United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan.[26]
In connection with the closing of the embassy in 2010, the 437 square meter house was put up for sale. The starting price was set at €3 million.[14][27]
