Bridging Ireland and Florida — Patrick Delaney appointed honorary consul just in time for St. Patrick’s Day
Patrick Delaney of Orlando has been appointed as the new honorary consul of Ireland. “Many of the Irish citizens who are going to come to us are going to do so in a time of distress and uncertainty and we’re going to approach them with kindness, respect, and empathy, Delaney said. “I want them to know that they can come to us without any hesitation or any reservations and feel confident that they’re going to receive the assistance that they need.” From the left are Lindsey Delaney, Patrick Delaney, Minister Darragh O’Brien, Sarah Kavanagh, and Dara Mac Gabhann.
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Patrick Delaney of Orlando has been appointed as the new honorary consul of Ireland, stepping into a role that bridges the Emerald Isle and Central Florida.
Delaney now serves as one of 14 honorary consuls for Ireland across the U.S., a position he’s thrilled to take on.
“I personally am excited to be part of Team Ireland and I look forward to serving the Irish citizens,” said Delany, who practices with RumbergerKirk. “Many of the Irish citizens who are going to come to us are going to do so in a time of distress and uncertainty and we’re going to approach them with kindness, respect, and empathy. I want them to know that they can come to us without any hesitation or any reservations and feel confident that they’re going to receive the assistance that they need.”
RumbergerKirk hosted Irish government officials on March 13 to announce the appointment. Sarah Kavanagh, consul general of Ireland in Miami and Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, and Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien TD (indicating he is a member of the lower house of Ireland’s parliament) announced Delaney’s appointment in conjunction with the opening of RumbergerKirk’s new office in Orlando.
Kavanagh and O’Brien will remain in Central Florida as part of a broader tour marking St. Patrick’s Day 2025, according to RumbergerKirk.
“The honorary consul of Ireland provides consular assistance and services to Irish citizens in line with the consular charter of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,” according to a statement from the Miami Consulate General of Ireland. “The role also supports the full-time diplomatic team based in the Consulate General of Ireland in Miami in developing economic, business, and cultural relations in Central Florida,”
The job of the honorary consulate has three primary aims, Delaney said.
“First is to provide consular assistance to higher citizens in need –– that’s a primary directive,” he said. “One of the things that I’ll have a significant hand in is emergency travel needs of Irish citizens that arise, specifically in Orlando and the Central Florida area. The most common example is an Irish citizen loses their passport and they need emergency travel documents to be able to return home. I can assist them in verifying their identity and then issuing emergency travel documents so that they can get home. The second goal is to help establish strong economic relationships between Ireland and Central Florida and then the third [goal] is to support the local Irish community.”
Since the honorary consulate runs out of Delaney’s office, which is not diplomatic premises, there are certain things he cannot do, such as provide legal advice to Irish citizens. However, he can refer them to an appropriate party for assistance.
“If somebody came to me with a criminal matter, I can point them in the right direction to criminal attorneys that can help,” said Delaney.
Delaney would also be available to assist in the event of the untimely passing of an Irish citizen while in Central Florida. “We can help their family maneuver the system and access certain trusts and grants by the Irish government,” he said.
“Orlando itself gets a significant amount of tourism from Ireland,” said Delaney. “Aerlingus, [Ireland’s] primary national airline, has four direct flights a week [to Orlando] from Dublin year-round,” he said.
The appointment was more than a year in the making. Former longtime Honorary Consul Terence “Terry” Delahunty stepped down due to illness in 2020. Delaney said he was recommended for the appointment to the Miami Consulate through mutual contacts with his alma mater, St. Thomas University College of Law in Miami.
“Through some amount of serendipity, somebody knew me,” Delaney said.
The official expression of interest for the consul position was published in November 2023. Delaney went through rounds of proposals and Zoom interviews. Finally, approvals by both the governments of Ireland and the U.S. were required before the appointment could be made.
The Irish Government opened its Consulate General in Miami in October 2022.
Delaney said he began his career at the West Palm Beach public defender’s office and joined RumbergerKirk in Orlando in March 2016.
