New ambassadors To Ireland from Burkina Faso and the Philippines presented their letters of credence to President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin recently.

Jacqueline Zaba, Ambassador of the Republic of Burkina Faso, was accompanied by her first counsellor Ousmane Ba (pictured above).

Antonio Manuel R. Lagdameo, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines was accompanied by his wife Linda F Lagdameo and by Rommel Romato, second secretary and consul (pictured below).

Also presenting his credentials was Pisanu Suvanajata, new ambassador to Ireland from the Kingdom of Thailand, who was accompanied by his wife Thipayasuda Suvanajata and counsellor Porpot Changyawa.

Brendan Griffin, Minister for State for Tourism and Sport, represented the Government at the ceremony along with Art O’Leary, secretary general to the President; aide-de-camp Col Liam Condon; and Aingeal O’Donoghue, Feilim McLaughlin, Joe Brennan and Claire Buckley from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The new ambassadors were accompanied to and from Áras an Uachtaráin by an escort of honour consisting of a motorcycle detachment drawn from the 2 Cavalry Squadron at Dublin’s Cathal Brugha Barracks, under the command of Lt Karl Dempsey.

A guard of honour was provided at Áras an Uachtaráin by the Air Corps under the command of Second Lt Aidan Higgins. Capt Fergal Carroll conducted the Army No 1 Band.