Mr. Cowen will name the new consul general at a luncheon hosted by the local chapter of the Ireland Chamber of Commerce United States and the Metro Atlanta Chamber at the Ritz-Carlton hotel downtown, according to an e-mail to reporters by chamber President Kevin Conboy.

A report in the Irish press in May, citing unnamed sources, said that an Irish consulate would open in Atlanta this fall, with diplomat Paul Gleeson taking up the position of consul general. 

Irish government officials first announced their plans for an Atlanta consulate in March 2009, saying that it would open by the end of that year.

The recession delayed those plans, but various government officials have repeatedly reaffirmed in Atlanta that a consulate here is central to Ireland's plan to revamp diplomatic and economic relations with the U.S.

GlobalAtlanta's Irish consulate coverage: 

Consulate News? Irish Prime Minister May Visit Atlanta in July

Irish Ambassador: Consulate Still Planned for Atlanta

Maybe Next Year for Indian, Irish Consulates

Irish Consulate General to Boost Business, Officials Say 

Irish Consulate General Coming to Atlanta

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