The Irish Ambassador leaves Russia

Philip McDonagh's term of office as Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to the Russian Federation is sadly coming to an end. This was one of his farewell events, and the only one I shall be attending as I am off to Scotland soon for a holiday.

The occasion was combined with the launch of a book, Russians in Ireland, which is the story of the recent influx of Russians into Ireland, describing the impact they have had on Irish culture and the influence that it has had on them. (Editor: Sergei Tarutin; publisher: Nasha Gazetta, Dublin)

This once again put me in mind of the serious deficit in Scottish diplomacy which results from the country's being a part of the United Kingdom. The UK is so big, powerful, influential and important that its Moscow Embassy does not have the time to promote the cultural connections of a small country like Scotland, despite the fact that the Scots in Russia since the seventeenth century have made a terrific impact (though it is true this has not been true to the same extent in the other direction).

Ireland, however, is able to paddle its own curragh in this respect. When will Scotland be able to row its own birlinn, diplomatically speaking?