Irish Speaker Verona Murphy Attends Saree Festival at Indian Embassy, Affirms Solidarity with Indian Community

By A Staff Reporter: In a rare and heartwarming gesture, Ms. Verona Murphy, Hon’ble Speaker of the Irish Parliament, attended the Festival of Saree hosted by the Indian Embassy in Dublin as the Guest of Honour. The event celebrated the essence of Swadeshi and Make in India, highlighting the cultural and economic spirit of India through its iconic attire, the saree.

Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra warmly welcomed Speaker Murphy and extended deep gratitude for her gracious presence. He lauded her longstanding support and encouragement to the Indian community in Wexford, her constituency, and described her participation as a powerful message of solidarity with the Indian diaspora, especially in light of recent incidents involving attacks on Indian professionals and students.

Speaker Murphy strongly condemned the targeting of Indians, emphasizing their significant contribution to Ireland’s healthcare sector and broader society. She reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to friendship with India and announced plans to reinvigorate the Ireland-India Parliamentary Friendship Group, which was reconstituted under her leadership after the last parliamentary elections.

Ambassador Mishra praised Speaker Murphy’s trailblazing role as Ireland’s first woman Speaker in its 103-year history and commended her efforts to foster dialogue and consensus amid growing political polarization. He noted shared democratic values between India and Ireland and expressed hope for deeper cooperation between their parliaments.

He also highlighted the achievements of Indian women professionals in Ireland, who excel in science, technology, research, and entrepreneurship, benefiting from Ireland’s inclusive and gender-sensitive ecosystem.