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Thursday, 16th October 2025

Yesterday, Wednesday 15th October, we attended a Diaspora Consultation forum, hosted by Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora.

This forum, along with other consultations held in Ireland and abroad, will feed into the development of Ireland’s new Diaspora Strategy, which will be launched in April 2026.

We were pleased to highlight some of the key issues affecting Irish abroad and those considering moving or returning to Ireland, particularly people doing so in challenging or crisis situations.

We will continue to contribute to the development of Ireland’s new Diaspora Strategy, and to work closely with our partners and networks in Ireland and abroad to ensure that anyone who might need our support knows we are here to help.

#SafeHomeIreland #ReturningIrish #IrishAbroad #IrishDiaspora #safehomeconnects

Wednesday, 15th October 2025

It was great to meet with Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora yesterday. Unfortunately Minister Richmond was unable to attend our ‘Briefing on Issues Affecting Returning Irish citizens’ with Ciaran Staunton due to a delayed flight, so we fully briefed him when he arrived! We are so thankful for his enduring commitment and that of Irish Foreign Ministry ensuring better outcomes for returning citizen.

Tuesday, 14th October 2025

We were honoured to attend and present at a cross-party briefing on “Issues Affecting Returning Irish Citizens” today in Leinster House (Dáil Éireann), in association with Ciaran Staunton of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform US).

A huge thank you to Johnny Guirke TD Meath West for organising and inviting us to speak and to all who attended and showed commitment to tackling what was addressed as primarily ‘administrative challenges’.

Our briefing covered a broad range of issues, including:

Recognition of foreign qualifications
Voting rights for Irish abroad
US/Irish driver’s licence exchange
Planning and housing challenges
Non-Irish spousal/de-facto visas

Safe Home Ireland direct work with Irish abroad who are considering returning or moving home, particularly those returning in unplanned or crisis situations supported by Irish Foreign Ministry

We were very encouraged that the members who attended committed to advancing some of our recommendations, including the establishment of a ‘Cross-Party Oireachtas Committee on Returning Irish’.

We will continue to share updates through our regular e-bulletins — sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/3xh7e2md

If you are abroad and thinking about returning, get in touch with us

If you have already returned and are facing any difficulties, we’d love to hear from you too.

Website: www.safehomeireland.com

#SafeHomeIreland #ReturningIrish #IrishAbroad #LeinsterHouse #IrishDiaspora

Monday, 29th September 2025

Our annual calendar is an important part of raising funds and awareness, and the 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲!

Thank you to our wonderful Ambassador Seán Keane and Marty Whelan at RTÉ lyric fm for promoting Safe Home Ireland. Great to raise awareness of our charity to ensure that anyone thinking about moving/returning to Ireland knows who to contact/where to start!

Monday, 22nd September 2025

So delighted to hold our Safe Home Ireland Stakeholders Day and launch our new-look website www.safehomeireland.com

Thanks to our many speakers and those who supported us via letter and video. We had a fantastic day at the wonderful EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum on a sunny Dublin day!

#safehomeconnects

Monday, 8th September 2025

Great to meet the team at Ashford Place - Cricklewood, London this afternoon. They do amazing work with the Irish community in Brent and beyond. Hear more about their work at our NEW website launch on 22 September!

Sunday, 7th September 2025

Fantastic sunny day at London Irish Vintage Club 2025 Vintage Charity Day. Great to meet our friends from BIAS, The Irish World, Donegal County Council, Meath Association, Council of Irish Associations and so many others. Thank you to Highland Radio for the interview too.

Please support this year's selected charities: St. Luke’s Hospice , Stamp Out Suicide, HCPT and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.

Wednesday, 9th July 2025

We were pleased to meet with Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora, and with Karl Gardner, Head of Irish Abroad Unit

Pictured with Nova Fariss (Chairperson) and Karen McHugh (CEO) of Safe Home Ireland. We were pleased to have the opportunity to discuss our work and highlight challenges for those seeking to return to Ireland as well as outline successes of our work.

We also discussed our plans for the next six months and look forward to contributing to the next Diaspora Strategy too.

Thursday, 26th June 2025

Great meeting with Embassy of Ireland, Belgium this morning. Karen McHugh and Karen Bollen are pictured with James O’Brien, Consular Officer, and David Aşgin Walsh, Deputy Head of Mission. It was a good opportunity to talk about Safe Home Ireland's work as well as hear about the great work carried out by the Consular Service in Belgium.

Wednesday, 25th June 2025

Day 3 - Brussels

Another amazing day in Brussels with #ERMiNe - lots of useful presentations, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities. Great oversight on possible EU funds available and projects working to support returnees and global diaspora perspectives and engagement.

European Union Global Diaspora Facility—Ireland recently became a member of this network (in 2024), and was highlighted as one of the countries that supports its diaspora via the Emigrant Support Programme globally. Ireland is the only country with a dedicated Diaspora Strategy!

Tuesday, 24th June 2025

Another busy day for Safe Home Ireland! We were delighted to be invited by President Michael D. Higgins and Sabina Higgins to a Community Garden Party. A fabulous day!

Included in the pictures with President and Sabina Higgins are: Ann Lawler and Paul Reardon of 'Friends of Safe Home Ireland'; Johnny B. Broderick (our Information & Communications Officer); Ann Roddy (Board Director, Treasurer); and Vivienne Woodley of our Returned Emigrant Network.

Thank you President of Ireland / Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins.