Consulate General of Ireland, Chicago

The Irish American Heritage Center was a hive of activity this past weekend as they hosted a beautiful event in collaboration with the Hope, Environment, and ArT Initiative dedicated to the humble bumble bee. 🐝

Guests enjoyed a mini vendor fest full of bee and honey themed products and a screening of the Irish documentary film, The Plight of the Bumblebee.

Created and produced by Brenda Castles, the film explores the history of bees in Irish folklore and religion, the issues bees face in our environment, and what we can do to help them.
The film screening was accompanied by the unique live soundtrack of traditional Irish music performed by Brenda Castles on concertina, Eileen Gannon on harp and Eimear Arkins on fiddle.🪗🪉🎻
Fantastic talent all around and not to be missed!

Upcoming screenings playing in New York and New England area.

Today, 01 June, marks the beginning of Pride Month on the island of Ireland, a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities, reflect on progress made, and recommit to the work that still lies ahead.

The promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTQI+ persons is a domestic and foreign policy priority for Ireland.
Participation in annual Pride events shows our support to LGBTQI+ persons and LGBTQI+ civil society and draws attention to the inequalities experienced by persons with diverse s*xual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and s*x characteristics.

Join the Consulate General of Ireland and Center on Halsted on Thursday, 18 June for a special screening of 'The Queen of Ireland,' followed by a conversation with Rory O'Neill, also known as Panti Bliss.

Through film and discussion, we'll explore Ireland's journey to marriage equality, the social change that followed, and the continued importance of LGBTQ+ advocacy, visibility, and inclusion for communities around the world.

We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of reflection, conversation, and celebration as we kick off Pride Month together 🏳️‍🌈

Event is free, but advanced registration is required.
https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=2e66d97f-95f4-4105-944c-6eaa98b7afa6&envId=p-pQDG1976-0GYhmEMz8qXcg&zone=usa

This summer is going to be busy!

Check out all the latest news and upcoming events in our June newsletter today.
https://conta.cc/4vi8y7y

Today is International Day of UN Peacekeepers where we remember and celebrate the brave women and men whose sacrifices uphold peace, protect civilians, deliver humanitarian aid, and promote and protect human rights and dignity.

Ireland’s participation in UN Peacekeeping operations represents the longest unbroken record of any nation. Since June 1958, not a day has passed without an Irish soldier deployed under a UN flag somewhere in the world 🌍

Today, Thursday 28 May, is Poetry Day Ireland, an annual celebration of poetry and creativity across the island of Ireland, coordinated by Poetry Ireland / Éigse Éireann 🇮🇪

As we mark Poetry Day Ireland, the Consulate is looking back on some of the poetry events it has over the past twelve months. This includes our 2026 St Brigid’s Day programme with Irish poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin and University of Chicago Professor Rachel Galvin, as well as a reading at Ireland House from Galway-based poet Luke Morgan, accompanied by fiddle player and music teacher Seán Cleland 🎻

Sign up to our newsletter at the link in our bio for details of more cultural events like these!

The Consulate will be closed on Monday, 25 May in observance of Memorial Day.

Irish citizens experiencing a genuine emergency may ring (312) 952-7224 for consular assistance.

The Consulate General of Ireland, Chicago and the American Writers Museum invite you to an event with writer, entertainer, drag queen, activist and ‘Queen of Ireland’ Rory O’Neill, also known as Panti Bliss.
Join us as we celebrate Bloomsday - the global celebration of Irish writer James Joyce that commemorates the events of his 1922 masterpiece, Ulysses.

This literary event will take us on an alternative exploration of Joyce’s work which sparkles with a few characters who can be considered part of the q***r spectrum, through to the LGBTQ+ writers and literature of today. It will traverse the path to the equality and inclusion that exists in today’s modern Ireland, vastly different from a century ago.

Tuesday, 16 June 11:30AM-1:30PM
American Writers Museum
180 N Michigan Ave, 2nd Floor

Event is free, but registration is required.
https://roryoneillatamericanwritersmuseumjune16.eventbrite.ie

Join Chicago’s Irish language groups, Na Gaeil and Gaeilago, at the Irish American Heritage Center for a traditional Irish singing workshop led by Gearóidín Breathnach — one of Ireland’s most celebrated sean-nós singers — visiting from Co. Donegal. This special event is limited to 25 participants, so register early!
Registration: https://forms.gle/WY4gxQDy9yR8gwzWA

Thursday, 28th May from 6:30PM-8:30PM

Today, on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, we mark the progress made on the rights of LGBTIQ+ people.

It is unacceptable that LGBTIQ+ people continue to face discrimination, harassment, and violence for being who they are.

Ireland will continue to call for further steps to realise the full equality of LGBTIQ+ persons at home and globally.

Inniu, ar an Lá Idirnáisiúnta in aghaidh na homafóibe, na trasfhóibe agus na défhóibe, déanaimid ceiliúradh ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le cearta daoine LADTIA+.

Is do-ghlactha é go mbíonn ar dhaoine LADTIA+ dul i ngleic leis an idirdhealú, le ciapadh agus le foréigean mar gheall ar an bhféiniúlacht atá acu.

Leanfaidh Éire uirthi ag éileamh go nglacfaí céimeanna breise le comhionannas iomlán daoine LADTIA+ a bhaint amach sa bhaile agus ar fud an domhain.

Spring has sprung and summer is loading!🌷☀️
Check out all of the latest news and events from around Chicago and the Midwest.
https://conta.cc/4uBpBRt