Diplomat moves from Baghdad to Baghdad By The Bay*
IRELAND NAMES NEW CONSUL GENERAL IN SAN FRANCISCO
Marianne Bolger, Ireland’s Ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, will replace Micheál Smith as Ireland’s Consul General in San Francisco in 2026. Smith, who’s been serving the Western United States for the last 3 years, will move to Riyadh, having been named Ireland’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen and Oman.
Bolger has worked for the Irish government for most of this century. She joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade after graduating from Dublin City University. One of her first postings with the Irish diplomatic corps was to Boston, where she served as Vice Consul from 2004 to 2008. Dring her four years as Ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, she lived with her family in Amman but travelled regularly to Baghdad.
DOING BUSINESS WITH THE IRISH EMBASSY
Unless you do a lot of trade with, or are a citizen of Ireland, it’s not likely you’ll have much contact with the Irish Consulate in San Francisco. If you’re thinking of relocating to Ireland, it wouldn’t hurt to give the Consulate a call. Oregon is one of nine states the Consulate in SF serves. There's also a Consulate in Southern California.
FROM BAGHDAD BY THE BAY* TO SAUDI ARABIA
Moving every three or four years is part of the job for any diplomat. It’s only when one reaches the highest levels that they serve extended terms...sometimes. Micheál Smith isn't quite there yet in his diplomatic career. He'll most likely move to the Kingdom next September. A native of Armagh, he holds a Bachelors Degree in Management (Business & Economics) from Queen’s University Belfast and a Masters in Economic Policy Studies from Trinity College Dublin. He is married to Claire and they have four children - Sophie, Senan, Conan and Oisín. He's no stranger to the Middle East, having repped Ireland there from 2017 to 2020.
Smith has made a number of visits to Portland, hosting Senator Jerry Buttimer at Kells in 2024.
*AN EXPLANATION
*Baghdad by the Bay only makes sense if you’re familiar with San Francisco in the 1950s and 1960s. Every great city deserves a great slogan and Baghdad by the Bay was what columnist Herb Caen gave to San Francisco. Why he called it that was never quite clear. Growing up in SF, I thought it had a Maltese Falcon feel to it. It's kind of like Keep Portland Weird. Caen also penned the warning Don't Call It Frisco.
