On Friday, 12 June, the Consul General of Ireland, Cardiff Denise McQuade, visited Talgarth and the Black Mountains in Powys at the invitation of Talgarth County Councillor William Powell, who arranged a programme of engagements in the local community.

The Consul General Denise McQuade visited the Triggs Café at Talgarth Mill and met with staff and volunteers before receiving a guided tour of the historic water mill which continues to use traditional methods to produce bread and flour using local ingredients.

The Consul General then visited the Talgarth Visitor Centre and a campus of Black Mountains College, a further and higher education institution providing courses in subjects including forestry management and horticulture, before receiving a guided tour of Bronllys Castle overlooking Castle Dinas, the site of the fortress of Brychan, the legendary king of Brycheiniog, who was claimed to be Irish in the Book of Leinster and gives his name to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.

The Consul General was then hosted by the Castle Hotel in Talgarth, where manager, Deputy Mayor Cllr Adam Brown provided food and arranged for a meeting with members of the Powys Irish community, who shared their stories of moving from Ireland to live in Wales.

Finally, the Consul General joined Cllr William Powell and Councillor for Hay Gareth Ratcliffe for a visit to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Grassland Event near Defynnog and engaged with various businesses and civil society representatives from the Welsh farming and agricultural sector and witnessed demonstrations of cutting-edge AI and drone technology now being manufactured in Wales and adopted by food producers.

Commenting Consul General Denise McQuade said: “It was a privilege to visit Talgarth and Defynnog and learn about some of the amazing work going on in the community in the area ranging from economic development to education, farming to heritage.

“I was also able to share Irish perspectives and experiences in these policy areas.

“It was a particular honour to meet so many members of the Irish community in Talgarth. I am grateful to each of them for taking the time to meet with me and share their personal stories. They are a testament to the success and contribution of the Irish diaspora in every part of Wales – rural and urban – and how deep the links between Ireland and Wales run.

“Thank you to County Councillor William Powell for extending the invitation and organising such an outstanding programme of engagements in his local community. My thanks also go to Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe and Councillor Adam Brown for the time they generously gave to hosting us."