Con Cremin

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Con Cremin (b. 6th December, 1908) in Kenmare, County Kerry; d. April 1987) was an Irish diplomat.

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[edit] Career

One of four children, Cremin was born to a family that operated a drapery business. His early education was spent at St. Brendan's College in Killarney and later from 1926 at University College Cork, where he studied Classics and Commerce, graduating with a first-class degree in Classics and Commerce.

c.1929-30 he was awarded the post graduate and Honan scholarship; by 1930 he had graduated with a degree in economics and accountancy. For the following three years he studied variously in Athens, Munich and Oxford, having attained a travelling scholarship in Classics. He subsequently entered the Department of External Affairs, having succeeded in the competition for third secretary in 1935.

In April 1935 he married Patricia O'Mahony. His first position in Dublin involved working with F.H. Boland on the League of Nations portfolio. In 1937 he was sent abroad on his first posting to Paris. There he worked under the 'Revolutionary Diplomat' Art O'Brien, until the latter retired in 1938. Sean Murphy later became his Minister. Ireland declared neutrality on the outbreak of the Second World War and Murphy and Cremin reported on the developments in France throughout the phony war.

After the fall of France, the Irish legation was the last legation to leave Paris except for the American Ambassador, on the 11 June 1940. After travelling to Ascain the legation eventually made its way to the new French Capital, Vichy. At Vichy, the Irish Legation set about looking after the needs of Irish citizens, many of whom had been interned, as they had British passports and had been sending political reports. The political reports were of the highest value and insured that Irish continue to observe pro-Allied neutrality throughout the war.

In 1943, Cremin was sent to Berlin, where he replaced William Warnock. Prior to his arrival the Legation was bombed. Cremin as Charge d'Affairs in Berlin was responsible for sending back political reports and looking after the interests of Irish citizens. Cremin also attempted to assist some European Jews, but to no avail. He did however send full reports on the Nazi treatment of the Jews in Europe. Warned to leave Berlin before the Soviets arrived, Cremin spent the last weeks of the war near the Swiss border.

In 1945, he was sent to Lisbon.


He had a distinguished career representing Ireland in many foreign missions and at the UN.

[edit] Foreign/Departmental Postings

His career in foreign affairs is regarded as exemplary and his professional advice and attitude in difficult times served his country well.[citation needed] In retirement he was a guest lecturer in 1974 at the Law Department of University College Cork

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