Spotlight:
Martin Gallagher
Firstly, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Martin Gallagher and I am Ireland’s new Ambassador to Brazil. I presented credentials to President Lula on 20 October. I’m originally from a small village in County Roscommon called Lisacul, not too far from the Roscommon, Mayo, and Sligo border. My mam, Breedge, was from Donegal and my dad, Mattie, is from Roscommon and grew up in the same house that myself and my twin brother did.
My family would say this type of life was always in my future, as I was always interested in learning about other countries and cultures, even as a kid. After studying Business and European Studies at Sligo I.T. and the University of Limerick, I joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2000. Since then, I have had the opportunity to live in Ljubljana, Geneva and New York, with stints in between in headquarters in Dublin.
I’ve been married to my husband, Davide, since 2016. We met in Geneva when we were both working there at the UN. He’s been working in Brazil since 2023, so my posting here means that we’re both in one place again, which is great.
Your career has taken you from Roscommon to New York, Slovenia, Geneva, to now Brasília. What has been the most surprising first impression of Brazil?
I’d visited Brazil in the past but living here is a totally different experience. The main shock has been the sheer size of the country. In my first few months, I’ve travelled to Santa Catarina, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Goiás, São Paulo and Pará states and I realise that I have only scratched the surface. I’m hoping to visit as much of the country as possible over the next four years.
The other thing that has blown me away is the welcome and hospitality I’ve encountered since arriving in Brazil. From the team at the Embassy and Consulate General, to the broader diplomatic community, to just about every Brazilian I’ve met, I’ve been bowled over by the welcome. I particularly appreciate the patience of Brazilians with a Portuguese learner. They really encourage you to speak without any judgement!
What are you most looking forward to experiencing on a personal level in Brazil?
As this is my first Ambassador post during my career, Brazil will always have a special place in my heart. Presenting Credentials to President Lula was an important moment both professionally and personally. Now, I am looking forward to discovering everything that Brazil has to offer in terms of the different landscapes, food, music and culture of this incredibly diverse country.
And on a professional level – what’s the single most important goal you’re hoping to achieve in your first year here?
My first and most pressing goal was to ensure a successful COP30 in Brazil for Ireland’s delegation, led by the Taoiseach. The meetings in Belém between 04 and 22 of November represented an important moment for people and planet, and for Brazil as host. It was an opportunity for Ireland to communicate its commitment to climate action at home and overseas. Support for the Amazon is a key element of Ireland’s climate policy, including through our support for the Amazon Fund, which supports the preservation and sustainable use of the Amazon Rainforest. In addition to the Taoiseach we also welcomed Minister of State Neale Richmond and Minister Darragh O’Brien to Belém. Planning for the meeting was a major logistical operation for the Embassy.
With COP now over, my main priority for the next year and beyond is deepening trade and investment ties between Ireland and Brazil. I’ll do this working closely with our Enterprise Ireland office in São Paulo and our other trade and investment agencies in Dublin. One key element of this would be to work towards a direct air route between Ireland and Brazil, which I intend to pursue in the coming months.
Of the four key partnership pillars – political dialogue, trade, education, and culture, which do you believe holds the biggest untapped opportunity for growth?
I’ve been really pleasantly surprised by the depth and breadth of the partnerships between Ireland and Brazil across all four of these pillars. The number of Irish Studies programmes across Brazilian universities, with strong support from the Irish Government, is particularly impressive. There are also deep and longstanding connections in the education space, although I see huge potential to grow these contacts, including in the area of research.
On the political front, we, of course, are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations this year, an event we’ll mark with the Brazilian Foreign Ministry in December. Relations have gone from strength to strength over the last 50 years. The visit by Foreign Minister Vieira to Dublin earlier this year was a landmark in our relationship. I believe there are many areas of potential collaboration between Ireland and Brazil, particularly in areas where we share a common view such as on ending hunger and poverty, addressing the situation in the Middle East and on responding to the climate crisis.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
As I have said, trade will be a top priority over the next year and beyond. With a market of 220 million consumers, and a growing middle class, I believe there are huge opportunities for Irish business to expand into Brazil. In the same way, I believe Ireland can be an excellent location for Brazilian companies looking to expand to Europe. The growing Brazilian community in Ireland can be a huge asset for businesses in both directions.
“My family would say this type of life was always in my future, as I was always interested in learning about other countries and cultures, even as a kid.”
What would you like to say to the Irish community who have made Brazil their home?
In the short time I’ve been here I’ve met both recently arrived Irish citizens and some whose families have been here for generations. While the Irish community in Brazil is small, it’s a community that is making an impact in business, education and public life in Brazil.
On my first visit to São Paulo at the end of October, I was delighted to meet with the Irish community at an event organised by Consul General Robert Jackson. The welcome there was also warm and generous. I am really looking forward to meeting the Irish in other cities during future visits. As I said when I met the community in São Paulo, the Irish community are the ones who are demonstrating Ireland and its values to their Brazilian friends, families and colleagues every day. They are also demonstrating how ours is a living heritage, one that welcomes new voices, new stories and new ways of being Irish. Team Ireland in Brazil is always ready to work with and support our community, including through organisations such as the IBNB!
Looking ahead to the end of your tenure, what single achievement would make you most proud?
I think time will tell, sometimes you need to take unforeseen opportunities when they arise. Although, I think a direct flight would be incredibly impactful for families and businesses in both Ireland and Brazil.
If you could bring one iconic Brazilian and an Irish figure together for dinner, who would they be and why?
Coming out of COP and inspired by the many activists and leaders I met here, I would love to host a dinner for former Irish President, Mary Robinson, and the current Minister of the Environment and Climate Change of Brazil, Marina Silva. Both President Robinson and Minister Silva have been lifelong campaigners for human rights and for climate justice. Both have had to fight to have their voices heard, yet, after decades of activism, neither are willing to stop when action is still needed to protect people and planet. I can imagine that over dinner, they would pool their energy and experience to come up with actions that would make a meaningful difference to people living with the effects of the climate crisis.
What do you think you will miss most about home while you’re away?
While Brazil is an amazing country, and Brasília is an amazing city, I obviously miss home and, particularly, being able to pop home to Roscommon for the weekend. And, of course, like everyone, I miss a packet of Tayto from time to time!
About the Author
Martin Gallagher, Ambassador of Ireland to Brazil
Ambassador Martin Gallagher is an Irish career diplomat with over two decades of experience representing Ireland. In October 2025, he presented credentials to become Ireland’s Ambassador to both Brazil and Suriname, and is Ireland’s Ambassador-designate for Guyana and CARICOM.
Prior to taking up post in Brazil, the Ambassador served as the Consular Director for Crisis Planning and International Travel at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin. He previously served as Political Coordinator and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations at the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in New York as well as at Ireland’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva and the Irish Embassy in Ljubljana. Ambassador Gallagher also worked as Senior Policy Advisor to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Food Security and Nutrition between 2012 and 2016.
Ambassador Gallagher holds an MA in European Integration from the University of Limerick and a Bachelor of Business Studies (Marketing) from the Institute of Technology in Sligo.
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