Mono’s presenter Shalini Sinha goes behind Embassy walls to visit a few of the 50 Embassies and Consulates in Ireland. She quickly finds herself helping to shift furniture, witnesses a flag-raising, and gets caught in a small squabble between an Ambassador and his son on the merits of diplomatic life.
On Dublin’s Wellington Road, preparations are underway in the Pakistan Embassy for Republic Day. It’s ‘all hands on deck’ moving furniture and hanging pictures as Ambassador Tohed Ahmed and his wife Nusheen prepare to host a flag raising ceremony and drinks reception.
Across town in Stillorgan, a sleek limousine arrives to collect Manette Ramaili and bring her to Áras an Uachtarán where she will present her credentials as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho to President Mary McAleese.
For both Ambassadors, these are very special days, as Ambassador Ahmed will soon retire from diplomatic service while this is the first posting for Mannete as her country’s ambassador.
After a day spent teaching at a south county Dublin school, Marisela deCleary from Ecuador returns home to start her second job, that of Honorary Consul for Ecuador. It’s a job for which she receives no wage, but feels it is important to provide a service to her countrymen in Ireland.
Less affluent countries cannot afford to buy and staff an Embassy, however unlike Ambassadors, Marisela can stay in Ireland as Honorary Consul for life.
Every 3 years, the career diplomat has to up sticks and transfer to a new posting leaving behind friends, family and a familiar territory. A new mission provides an opportunity to learn all there is to know about a new country, facilitate trade and cultural links and continue their training as true global citizens.
And while Dublin is regarded as a relatively informal city, there is still an endless round of cocktail parties, openings and exhibitions, where socialising is mixed with a healthy dose of business. From Embassy Row in Ballsbridge to the tiny consulates in the Dublin suburbs, ‘Mono’ meets the men and women on a diplomatic mission.
MONO IS PRODUCED BY KAIROS COMMUNICATIONS FOR RTÉ TELEVISION.