Ambassador shares a cúpla focail

BRITISH ambassador to Ireland Stewart Eldon is not averse to speaking a few words of Irish.

In fact, learning the lingo is one of the things he and wife Christine Mason did while hillwalking in Donegal over the summer.

Like many Britons, he is well aware what the word craic means and can just about get his tongue around cúpla focail but seisiún had him stumped.

After a hectic couple of decades flitting between London and New York, he and his wife are enjoying life in Dublin but also like to travel around Ireland.

He is amazed by how Ireland changed in 20 years, particularly Dublin. “I couldn’t believe the changes in Dublin. I needed a map to get around,” he said.

He is hopeful the North’s Assembly will be reinstated soon and hopes to cement the warm relations between Ireland and Britain.

“Ireland has a lot to offer,” he says. Given his experience, reputation and people skills, Britain’s new ambassador has a lot to offer as well.