Cheers to new beginnings! A welcoming cocktail last night brought together teams, institutional representatives, cultural partners, business collaborators, and friends, marking the arrival of our new Executive Director Pierre-Emmanuel Jacob. A wonderful evening of connections and shared excitement for the road ahead.
Read the full opening speech below:
Madame l’Ambassadrice de France,
Monsieur le Vice-Président de l’Alliance Française de Dublin, dear James,
Mesdames et Messieurs les membres du Conseil d’administration,
Monsieur le Conseiller culturel de l’ambassade de France, dear Xavier,
Distinguished guests, Dear friends of the Alliance, and dear partners,
It is with great emotion that I address you this evening, as I take up my position as the Executive Director of the Alliance Française Dublin. Joining this prestigious institution, so deeply rooted in Dublin’s cultural and educational life, is for me both a true honour and a great responsibility.
After three attempts, it is also a true joy to finally be in Dublin. This city, with its unique energy, rich history, and vibrant cultural life, offers an inspiring environment.
My spouse and I have already had the pleasure of attending some events of the Fringe Festival and discovering the treasures of several museums. On a more personal note, we have been particularly touched by the warmth of its people, the openness of its society, and the creative vitality that can be felt everywhere. Dublin is a dynamic and welcoming city, and I look forward to exploring it more deeply while contributing to its cultural landscape.
Allow me also to humbly and briefly introduce myself. Over the past thirty years, I have had the privilege of serving the French cultural network in different parts of the world, from Asia to Europe and North America, leading Alliances Françaises and cultural projects. Most recently, actually until end of August, I directed the Alliance Française Toronto, a major institution in Canada, where I worked closely with local communities, cultural partners, and French and francophone artists. Throughout my career, I have always been motivated by the conviction that culture and education are powerful tools for dialogue, inclusion, and transformation. Today, it is with great enthusiasm that I bring this experience, this passion, and this commitment to Dublin, to serve this community and to work hand in hand with all of you.
I am mindful of the richness of the Alliance Française Dublin’s history, of its achievements and its projects, but above all of the strength of the community that brings it to life. To me, the Alliance is first and foremost a human adventure, a community of shared values. It is a community of dedicated women and men who put their energy, talent, and passion at the service of a common ideal – that of promoting the French language, fostering intercultural dialogue and embracing inclusivity. Since its foundation, the Alliance has embodied a humanist vision: one of openness, transmission, and encounter. It rests on a simple yet profound idea: friendship without constraint – the kind that connects people across borders and differences, through a love of words, sounds, images, and ideas.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to our Board of Directors for their warm welcome and for their exemplary volunteer commitment. To give one’s time, expertise, and energy so generously is a rare and precious act. I have already witnessed the quality of their listening, guidance, and dedication to the service of the Alliance. To be able to rely on such a committed Board is truly a privilege, and I am delighted to join forces with them to continue developing this fine institution.
I also wish to underline the importance of our relationship with the Embassy of France in Ireland. Our exchanges are constant, fruitful, and guided by the same objective: to promote French language and culture in all their diversity and vitality, as well as francophone cultures. This collaboration, this partnership – carried out with full respect for our independence – is an essential support, and I look forward to deepening it throughout my mission.
Looking ahead, the Alliance Française de Dublin has set itself an ambitious plan to continue strengthening its role as a leading cultural and educational institution in Ireland. An old institution, yet deeply rooted in the present, it builds on its legacy while embracing the challenges of today. We want to expand access to French language learning, develop innovative programs that embrace digital tools, and further diversify our cultural offer. We also aim to reinforce partnerships with schools, universities, cultural institutions, and businesses, so that the Alliance remains at the heart of Dublin’s intellectual and creative life. Inclusivity and sustainability will guide our choices, ensuring that the Alliance is open to all, responsive to contemporary challenges, and forward-looking in its mission.
Finally, in my first days here, I have had the pleasure of meeting talented, dynamic, and deeply committed teams. It is our teachers and administrative staff who make us who we are – true artisans of daily life – who uphold with rigour and generosity the values of our institution, and who are the pillars of every project, every event, every success. Their professionalism, dedication, and creativity will give profound meaning to my work, and I am already infinitely grateful to them. Each of them, in their own way, helps to build every day this space of exchange, openness, inclusivity and conviviality.
In today’s fractured world, where many values and achievements are being called into question, the role of the Alliance Française and of intercultural dialogue has never been more important or more essential. Building bridges between cultures, overcoming identity divides, fostering inclusivity and mutual understanding, and ensuring access to culture and education for as many people as possible – this is the commitment we will uphold here, day after day, in the service of the francophone, francophile, and Irish communities.
I am excited to embark on this journey with you, to create new projects together, and to continue developing the Alliance Française Dublin with both fidelity to its history and openness to the future.
I thank you warmly for your welcome, your trust, and your presence at my side this evening.
Let me raise a toast to you, to friendship, to culture, and to a living francophonie in Ireland.
I wish you a wonderful evening in our Café Madeleine.
Thank you.
