A proud son of Limerick, Kevin Conmy, will take up his new posting as Ireland Ambassador to Belgium in the Autumn.
Mr. Conmy, who grew up in Adare, was confirmed in this important posting by Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.
Ireland and Belgium have long enjoyed excellent relations, politically, culturally and economically. Our historic ties have been documented as far back as the 7th century. Today, Belgium is one of Ireland’s largest trading partners with our exports there close to €20 billion annually.
“I am very excited with this posting,” Mr. Conmy told the Weekly Observer/Vale Star. “I see it as an excellent opportunity to represent Ireland abroad in such an important state within the European Union. Belgium has for a long time been a very good partner to Ireland, and I look forward to maintaining and possibly improving that relationship.”
He added: “To be based at the heart of the European Union is important to Ireland, what with ongoing happenings, be that in relation to Brexit or Covid-19. I will endeavour to strengthen our hand with Belgium and will work to the very best of my ability in this new role as Ambassador to Belgium.”
Soon-to-be Ambassador Conmy was born in Chicago but the family – dad Frank, mum Nora and siblings Bernie, Brendan and Teresa – returned ‘home’ to Knockanes outside Adare in 1972.
The Conmy children attended the local CBS Primary and Secondary Schools, and following the closure of the latter Kevin completed his second-level studies at its sister school at Sexton Street, Limerick. By his own admission, parents Frank and Nora (nee Gray) instilled in him a strong work ethic, combining his father’s attention-to-detail as a tradesman and his Sligo mother’s thirst of knowledge, most notably through reading.
In his youthful days around Adare and beyond, Kevin Conmy won numerous prestigious set-dancing competitions. “Well I wasn’t too bad at the dancing alright,” he joked. “We used go as a family every Wednesday night to the Conradh na Gaeilge sessions, and then we had the youth discos. All great times in the parish and school hall.”
By his own admission, sport wasn’t his forte but he did play “a little bit of hurling and football, but to be honest I wasn’t great.”
Graduating with an Honours BA Degree from University College Dublin, Conmy quickly gained employment with the Department of Foreign Affairs and over the last four decades or so has held significant diplomatic postings in New York, San Francisco, London, Washington and most recently as Joint Secretary to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Belfast.
Married to the acclaimed poet and published writer Siobhan Campbell, the couple have three adult children; Amy is a Fashion Design Graduate based in London, while sons Luke and Eoin are nearing the end of their respective studies at Queen’s University Belfast.
His brother Brendan, sisters Teresa and Bernie, and their families, all still live around Limerick and Mr. Conmy returns home to visit them frequently.
Ambassador Conmy’s prestigious job in Brussels is for a four-year term, commencing in September. He will present his credentials on arrival to the Head of State, King Philippe of Belgium.