English By Natalie Liu Share on Facebook Print this page WASHINGTON - Despite the health and security concerns that kept the usual large crowds away from this week’s swearing-in of a new American president, one Washington community was well represented at the solemn ceremony on the steps of the U.S. Capitol – the diplomatic corps.
For many of them, the ceremony was a moving reaffirmation of the strength and durability of American democracy just 14 days after an insurrection that had shaken both the nation and its allies around the world.
“There are 190 ambassadors in Washington, I would say there were at least 180 ambassadors there,” Daniel Mulhall, Ireland’s ambassador in the United States, told VOA in a phone interview. “I can’t imagine anybody [who’s invited] not being there, except somebody being sick or something.”
Comments
Norman Houston, the former Executive for the Northern Ireland Bureau, has died today in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is survived by his two children.
The Northern Ireland Bureau, the diplomatic mission of The Northern Ireland Executive to North America, said in a tweet on January 12 that they were “heartbroken” to hear of Houston’s sudden passing.
We are so heart-broken to hear of the sudden passing of our wonderful friend & colleague, Norman Houston. A dear friend & a wonderful ambassador for Northern Ireland. We join with his many friends here in North America to send our deepest condolences to Chloe, Connor and family. pic.twitter.com/hxF4jWS0eS
long.
For anyone slightly confused, Fungie is a wild dolphin that lived off the coast of Dingle in Co Kerry, and is also a national mascot. Tourists from all over Ireland and beyond flock to see the famous dolphin in his natural habitat on boat trips off the Kerry coast.
The nation has long been very fond of the friendly and cheeky, Fungie so naturally everyone was devastated when he went missing earlier this year.
At first, many thought it was just because there were no tourists heading out to see him but now, months later, it seems he is not coming back!