Morocco in Ireland

23/04/2026

TRH Princesses Lalla Khadija, Lalla Meryem, & Lalla Hasnaa, Joined by Brigitte Macron, Attend Opening Show of Rabat Royal Theater

Rabat - Their Royal Highnesses Princesses Lalla Khadija, Lalla Meryem, and Lalla Hasnaa, joined by Brigitte Macron, attended on Wednesday evening the opening show of the Royal Theater of Rabat, an iconic building that enshrines the continued High Care shown by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, toward art and culture.

Before heading to the Royal Box to watch the show, TRH Princesses Lalla Khadija, Lalla Meryem, and Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Royal Theater of Rabat Foundation, along with Brigitte Macron, were greeted by the members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

The show started with a film on Royal Theater, an institution symbolizing the cultural and artistic renewal of the Kingdom’s capital and reflecting Morocco’s cultural dynamism under the enlightened Leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God preserve Him, by promoting a modernist approach to Moroccan art, alongside creative capacities enhancement.

This unique architectural and urban landmark will elevate Rabat to the rank of major international cultural destinations under the visionary impetus of His Majesty the King, may God glorify Him, and allow the Kingdom to strengthen its vocation as a land of intercultural dialogue, civilizational interaction, and confirmation of universal values and ideals.

After the orchestra and choir performed the national anthem, the audience was treated to an exceptional musical moment featuring soloist Marouan Benabdallah in the classical repertoire, mezzo-soprano Ahlima Mhamdi in major operatic arias, Samira Kadiri performing Arab-Andalusian heritage pieces, and Driss El Maloumi, composer and oud performer, presenting a contemporary creation inspired by Moroccan sounds.

Through this program performed exclusively by Moroccan artists, the guests embarked on a brilliant artistic and human journey where composers, soloists, singers, choristers, conductors, and musicians celebrated the rich, excellent, and diverse national artistic scene—creative and open to various global musical expressions.

Tchaikovsky’s concerto and arias by Bizet and Verdi were presented alongside Andalusian motives and a contemporary Moroccan touch, merging the universal repertoire with national heritage.

To celebrate this historic moment, an exceptional union took place for the first time involving the Morocco Philharmonic Orchestra, on the cusp of celebrating its thirty years, and the Royal Symphony Orchestra, commemorating its twenty years. Brought together on the same stage under Dina Bensaïd’s conducting, 76 musicians and 40 choristers combined their talents in a shared artistic momentum.

At the end of the show, Their Royal Highnesses Princesses Lalla Khadija, Lalla Meryem, and Lalla Hasnaa, joined by Brigitte Macron, were greeted by Samira Kadiri, soprano, Ahlima Mhamdi, mezzo-soprano, Dina Bensaïd, conductor and concert pianist, Marouan Benabdallah, pianist, Driss El Maloumi, composer and oud virtuoso, and Younes Terfas, director of the Royal Symphony Orchestra.

Hundreds of Moroccan and foreign artists, cultural figures, intellectuals, show and visual arts runners, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Rabat (ambassadors, chargés d’affaires of diplomatic missions, and representatives of international organizations) were also invited to this opening performance.

Located in the heart of the Bouregreg valley, completing the landscape of the Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Royal Theater of Rabat stands, alongside the Mohammed VI Tower, as a symbol of the renewal and stature of the Kingdom’s capital, in line with the integrated development program for the city of Rabat, “Rabat City of Light, Moroccan Capital of Culture,” initiated under
the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has made culture a pillar of the Kingdom’s development and progress.

17/04/2026

H.E. Dr. Lahcen Mahraoui, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Ireland, visited the National College of Art & Design (NCAD) in Dublin, where he met with Professor Sarah Glennie, Director, and Ms. Gwen Farrelly to explore opportunities for collaboration.

The discussions focused on strengthening Morocco–Ireland academic and cultural ties, fostering partnerships in art, design, and innovation, and promoting institutional cooperation and student exchange.

On this occasion, His Excellency was also invited to visit various workspaces across NCAD, gaining insight into the college’s creative environment and academic practices.

15/04/2026

H.E. Dr Lahcen Mahraoui, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Ireland, met today at the Embassy premises with Ms Maria Gillen, a fourth-generation Irish storyteller, ahead of her visit to Morocco from 18 April to 25 May as part of Story Bridge. This initiative is organised by the World Storytelling Café in Marrakech and Sheehan’s Storytelling Cottage, as a follow-up project to the Marrakech International Storytelling Festival held in January 2025.

This remarkable festival recently set a Guinness World Record for the longest storytelling performance, reaching 80 hours and 32 minutes.

The Story Bridge programme will include a visit to the Atlas Mountains for special storytelling sessions centred on Irish tales, as well as a residency at the World Storytelling Café in Marrakech.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to explore the rich storytelling traditions of Morocco and Ireland, and to discuss how oral heritage can serve as a powerful bridge for deeper cultural exchange and stronger people-to-people connections between the two nations.

14/04/2026

As part of the Francophonie Festival, H.E. Dr. Lahcen Mahraoui had the pleasure of visiting Eriu Community College.

He was warmly welcomed by Acting Principal Ms. Karen O’Donovan, along with the school’s staff and students. During his visit, the Ambassador delivered a presentation that helped students gain a deeper understanding of Morocco, its role within the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the broader Francophonie community, highlighting its values of cultural diversity, solidarity, and dialogue.

The students also delivered a presentation on their school, contributing to a memorable and inspiring exchange that reflected the spirit of openness and mutual learning at the heart of the Francophonie.

Emer Currie TD - Dublin West

08/04/2026

The Kingdom of Morocco welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

https://tinyurl.com/4acsueru

30/03/2026

As part of the Francophonie Festival, His Excellency Dr. Lahcen Mahraoui, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Ireland, participated today in a meeting held at the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) between Ambassadors of Francophonie countries and Deputy Barry Ward, TD. The discussions focused on strengthening the Oireachtas’s engagement with the Francophonie.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to explore avenues for enhancing parliamentary cooperation, promoting cultural diversity, and further deepening Ireland’s engagement with the Francophonie.

27/03/2026

As part of Francophonie Month in Ireland, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco was pleased to co-organise, alongside the Embassy of France in Dublin, the Alliance Française of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and the Association for French and Francophone Studies in Ireland, the Joutes oratoires universitaires, held today at Trinity College Dublin.

This inspiring event brought together talented students from diverse academic backgrounds, showcasing their ability to articulate ideas in French with clarity, structure, and critical insight. It provided a dynamic platform for young voices to engage with contemporary issues while promoting the values of dialogue, diversity, and cultural cooperation that lie at the heart of the Francophonie. 🌍🗣️

The Embassy of Morocco was proud to support this initiative, which reflects our shared commitment to promoting multilingualism, academic excellence, and intercultural understanding.

As a member of the jury, the Embassy extends its sincere congratulations to the winners for their outstanding performances and the high quality of the debates. 👏🎓

The jury was composed of:
• Mr Pierre-Emmanuel Jacob, Director of the Alliance Française of Dublin
• Prof. Maeve McCusker, Professor of French, Queen’s University Belfast
• Prof. James Hanrahan, Professor of French, Trinity College Dublin
• Ms Kenza Abdellaoui, First Secretary, Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco

26/03/2026

As part of the celebrations of the Month of La Francophonie in Ireland, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium co-organised this morning a friendly football match between a team of Irish Deputies and Senators and a team representing Francophone embassies based in Dublin. ⚽🇮🇪🌍

The match provided a wonderful opportunity to strengthen ties, meet in a convivial atmosphere, and celebrate our shared values through sport. Participants and guests also enjoyed Moroccan pastries and traditional mint tea, adding a warm cultural touch to the event. 🍵🥮

Congratulations to the Irish parliamentary team for their well-deserved victory! 🏆

On behalf of the ambassadors of the Francophonie, H.E. Nicolas Nihon, Ambassador of Belgium, and H.E. Lahcen Mahraoui, Ambassador of Morocco, presented the trophy to the Irish team at the end of the match.

This friendly encounter perfectly illustrated the spirit of La Francophonie: friendship, dialogue, and cultural exchange.

21/03/2026

His Excellency Dr. Lahcen Mahraoui, Ambassador of the kingdom of Morocco to Ireland, celebrated today with the Moroccan community Eid Al-Fitr at the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge in Dublin.

This celebration was an occasion to convey his warmest wishes to members of the community and their families, and to highlight the values of solidarity, generosity, and togetherness that define this blessed feast. It was also an excellent opportunity to underline the high importance His Majesty King Mohammed VI attaches to Moroccans living abroad, and His constant solicitude to strengthen their ties with the motherland and support their integration while preserving their national identity.

The gathering further provided an opportunity to reinforce the bonds between the Embassy and Moroccan citizens residing in Ireland in a warm and convivial atmosphere, reflecting the unity and vitality of the Moroccan community. The Embassy would also like to express its sincere thanks to all Moroccans who were involved in organizing this excellent event and contributed to its success

19/03/2026