Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States, Drogheda woman and former Greenhills College girl Geraldine Byrne Nason, was made an honorary member of the Drogheda Lions Club on Monday night at a reception in Scholars Hotel.
During a long and distinguished career in the service of her country Ms Nason, who was conferred with the freedom of Drogheda in 2001, has also served as Ireland’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU, and as Second Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach.
As chair of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Geraldine’s was a strong voice for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
She also demonstrated her impact in the area of sustainable development through her co-chairing of negotiations on the pathway for Small Island Developing States
Geraldine was appointed as Ireland’s permanent representative to the UN in New York in 2017, and whilst there secured a seat for Ireland at the UN Security Council in 2020.
From January 2021 she held the Irish seat at the UNSC for its two-year tenure, being President of the council for the month of September 2021 whilst simultaneously chairing the 62nd and 63rd sessions of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Marian Agrios, spokesperson for Drogheda Lions Club, told Drogheda Life that the club was privileged to have Ms. Geraldine Byrne Nason as their guest and to recognize the tremendous work throughout her life of diplomatic service but notably her work with the United Nations.
“Lions International have a long and established relationship with the UN, having provided aid and manpower for the projects of several UN Agencies like UNICEF (United Nations Children Fund), WHO (World Health Organization), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)” she said.
“It was wonderful to have our sponsors and our friends join us to celebrate, but especially to have relatives and friends of Geraldine present also.”
