He's packed his bags and heads for Brussels this weekend to take up a new job as the Mexican trade official for Europe. The Mexican ambassador, Daniel Dultzin, who has initiated and nurtured numerous artistic and cultural IrishMexican initiatives since his arrival here, will be missed by many. Sob. Not least, he'll be missed as a cello player who played as part of an impromptu chamber group along with the Canadian ambassador, Ron Irwin, and Susanne Van Vliet, artist and wife of the Dutch ambassador, Peter]Van Vliet.
Dultzin is saluted by his peers in the diplomatic corps as well as a host of friends and admirers at an evening which starts in the National Concert Hall. The night begins with a speech from Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, the Apostolic Nuncio, who presents Dultzin with a book of poetry signed by Yeats himself. "You will face many great opportunities in your new responsibility in the field of trade and international commercial agreements," he says. He urges him not to forget "all the riches that you have discovered in the social and cultural plains throughout your diplomatic career and especially over the past four-and-a-half years in Ireland".
As well as many diplomats, the concert gathering abounds with poets, painters, musicians and writers. The list of Dultzin's achievements during his tenure includes the development of the Centre of Mexican Studies in UCC; the translation of An Tain and five of Seamus Heaney's books into Spanish, including The Spirit Level; the upcoming exhibition of Louis le Brocquy and Anne Madden's work in Oaxaca next October; and, perhaps the most curious, his involvement with Clifden. "It's the only town that celebrates Mexico," he explains. It's the birthplace of Captain John O'Reilly, leader of the San Patricio Battalion, which fought in 1847 when the US invaded Mexico. Fifty were killed, including 48 Irishmen. Clifden now commemorates this event. Many at the special concert of Mexican music, "Viva Mexico", at the NCH (with the RTE Concert Orchestra under the baton of Robert Houlihan and with soprano Kathleen Tynan) carry on to a party at the Harbour Master bar. Louis le Brocquy, who has two exhibitions opening next Wednesday in London - a cycle of his 28 Aubusson tapestries at Agnew's Gallery and a series of new oils at the Gimpel Fils Gallery - is here with his wife, Anne Madden. Emily and Charles Naper, of Loughcrew Gardens, were are also present.