Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Saint Patrick’s Day: an interview with Ireland’s Ambassador HE Michael Forbes

БНР Новини
Photo: Ani Petrova, BNR

The population of Ireland is about 6.3 million, but it is estimated that 50 to 80 million people around the world have Irish origin making the Irish diaspora one of the biggest of any nation. In USA alone the Irish nowadays exceed 40,000,000 people.

Michael Forbes has been Ireland’s Ambassador to Bulgaria since October 2016. Prior to his appointment in Bulgaria, Ambassador Forbes served as Permanent Representative of Ireland to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) andPermanent Delegate  of  UNESCO in Paris. 

From 2009 to 2012, he was the Director for Europe and Asia at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Prior to that he served as Ireland's Ambassador to Israel. 

Michael Forbes is also the ambassador of Ireland to Armenia and Georgia where there are no embassies of the Republic of Ireland.

Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th all over the world. On the occasion of this special for every Irish Day  Assia Chaneva talks to HE Michael Forbes about his impressions of Bulgaria and Bulgarians. From the audio file you will hear also more about the relations between Bulgaria and Ireland as well as what the concerns for Ireland and Irish people are in the aftermath BREXIT.






Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Vratsa invests in culture to boost tourism and local economy

Despite being in Bulgaria’s poorest region, the North-West, Vratsa Province ranks among the top three in the country for economic development. According to 2023 data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI), it shares third place with Varna on the..

published on 11/26/25 4:54 PM

Stockholm Christmas concert to showcase traditional Bulgarian music

Bulgarian artists will take part in the festive Christmas concert in Stockholm , organised with the European Commission's representation and embassies , the Bulgarian embassy in the Swedish capital announced on Facebook. The event is scheduled for 8..

published on 11/26/25 3:20 PM

A Bridge of Words and Memory – Dimi Komanduci and her project “The Charisma of Bulgarians”

The project “The Charisma of Bulgarians” is, in essence, a bridge between different worlds . With it, Dimitrinka Yordanova Komanduci - psychologist, psychotherapist, vocal coach, and author of “Your Voice Can Change Your Life” - aims to create a..

published on 11/25/25 11:53 AM