Indian Embassy in Dublin Marks 77th Republic Day, Highlights Constitutional Values and $18 Billion Bilateral Trade Milestone

Dublin, Ireland: Dublin witnessed a spirited celebration of India’s 77th Republic Day as Ambassador of India to Ireland, Akhilesh Mishra, unfurled the National Flag and read out the Address to the Nation by the Hon’ble President of India at a ceremony held at the premises of the Indian Embassy. Despite challenging weather conditions, the event drew enthusiastic participation from a large number of members of the Indian community as well as Irish friends of India.

In his address, Ambassador Mishra underlined that the true significance of Republic Day lies in the collective re-dedication of citizens to the values and ideals enshrined in the Indian Constitution. He described the Constitution as the bedrock of Indian democracy and the source of the rights and freedoms enjoyed by citizens.

Emphasising the balance between rights and responsibilities, he noted that rights can be sustained only when society diligently discharges its duties. Referring to the Preamble, he reminded the gathering of the obligation to promote fraternity and ensure the unity and integrity of the nation. He also drew attention to the Fundamental Duties, which call upon citizens to promote harmony, foster a spirit of common brotherhood beyond religious, linguistic and regional diversities, safeguard public property and abjure violence.

For a diverse and pluralistic country like India, he said, living by Constitutional ideals in everyday life is essential to building a harmonious, inclusive and developed nation.

Highlighting the growing strength of India–Ireland relations, the Ambassador pointed to the remarkable rise in two-way bilateral trade, which crossed US $18 billion (approximately €16 billion) in 2024, up from about US $5 billion in 2021. He credited the Indian community of around 100,000 people in Ireland for playing a vital role in strengthening multifaceted bilateral ties and promoting mutual understanding and goodwill between the two countries.

He also praised the community for maintaining strong cultural connections with India. Special mention was made of the contribution of women in the community, who, he noted, are excelling professionally while also leading voluntary efforts to preserve Indian languages, dances, arts and musical traditions and passing them on to younger generations.

Ambassador Mishra also briefed attendees on various Embassy initiatives aligned with the Government of India’s vision of “Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat.”

Among these was the hosting of 23 events under the Embassy’s State Cultural Series, designed to showcase the cultural richness of different Indian States and highlight opportunities in trade and tourism. He acknowledged that the success of these programmes was made possible by the active support and participation of artists and community members from across India.