I was educated at Gonzaga College Dublin and Balliol College Oxford.  

During my diplomatic career, I served as Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, and as Ambassador to the United Kingdom, to Italy and to Malaysia. I also held several senior positions at Department of Foreign Affairs HQ in Dublin. I worked in the cabinets of two European Commissioners and was an official of the European Parliament.  

Since retirement in 2018, I qualified as an executive coach at UCD’s Smurfit Business School and subsequently completed the advanced coaching course at the Smurfit Business School.  

I now work as an executive coach.  

I am also a public commentator, including as a regular contributor to the Irish Times, on a wide range of issues including the European Union and British-Irish relations.    

 I am married and have four daughters and twelve grandchildren.