All Strangers Here: 100 Years of Personal Writing from the Irish Foreign Service

In 1919, the fledgling Irish State sent envoys out into the world to represent the Irish people and assert our independent voice. Since then, Irish diplomats and their families have been inspired to give creative voice to their experiences. The arts of diplomacy and of writing are close companions—both appreciate the importance of words and the necessity of imagination. This volume comprises a selection of personal, creative, and unofficial writing by Irish diplomats and their immediate family. Part of the Department of Foreign Affairs centenary programme, this collection is a tribute to the creative power of language and the imaginative bonds that connect us. Between these pages, encounter a century of familiar names and new companions. Contributors include Eavan Boland, Maeve Brennan, Maire Mhac an tSaoi and Daniel Mulhall.