Photograph: Liam Burke/Press 22
THE Mexican community in the MidWest now has a representative of international scale with the appointment of Ronan Branigan, managing director of The Savoy Group, as Honorary Consul for Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Kilkenny.
Having accepted the invitation made by Mexican Ambassador to Ireland Carlos Garcia De Alba, this is the third and last consulate created in the 26 counties since His Excellency’s arrival in Dublin four years ago. Another will open in Belfast in 10 days in an active policy of decentralisation of his mission, the Ambassador told Limerick Post.
There are an estimated 3,500 Mexican citizens in the country, about 50 to 60 located in the four counties for which the Limerick based consulate will be responsible. Ronan Branigan, working in the hotel and restaurant business graduating from Shannon College of Hotel Management in the ’80s, follows in the line of iconic achievers such as Tony Ryan and Tony Smurfit who were the first line of contact for Mexico here until the Embassy was established in 1992.
Prior to the inauguration ceremony to mark the Consulate opening at its base, the Savoy Hotel, Mr Branigan looked ahead to his role, underlining connectivity in business, education and culture, as well as being “the first port of call to assist the Mexican community in what ever way I can. If I can deal with the issue here and put it to bed without bothering the Embassy and its workload, I will.
Photo: Liam Burke/Press 22
“Working on linkages in economics and culture, and education being the third area, are important”.
With his sister Orla being Dean of the MBA in the Tec de Monterrey, Mexico city, “one of the top third level institutes in the world”, Ronan Branigan wants to groom a relationship there with our own third level colleges and graduates.
He has been a frequent flyer back and over. “The Mid West has for many years been a home for multinationals and they have a great presence in Mexico. I want to engage with their CEOs, create a synergy and capitalise on opportunities, see where the linkages lie”.
The first step is creating a website to serve the consulate and its constituency. This hotelier is also looking to hauling 2014’s inaugural PROMEXICO expo from its Dublin perch to Limerick at some stage. HE De Alba supports this big undertaking: “Last year’s was the first on such a scale. More than 100 CEOs from the two countries attended and soon PROMEXICO will have a permanent office in Dublin”.
The focus is parallel to the IDAs in maximising investments, import/ export opportunities. A Limerick presence “will help even more to boost connections and relationships”.
