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30 Jan 2026
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{L-R} Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach, Louth County Council, Dr Gergely Bánhegyi, the Hungarian Ambassador to Ireland, David Conway, Chief Executive Louth County Council
Louth County Council have met with Dr Gergely Bánhegyi, Hungarian Ambassador to Ireland.
In a post on X, Louth County Council said it was honoured to welcome Dr Bánhegyi to County Hall in Dundalk.
The ambassador donned a St Brigid's Cross on his lapel ahead of St Brigid's Day.
The visit was hosted by Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Chief Executive, David Conway and Directors of Service, Joanna Kelly and Thomas McEvoy.
Dr Bánhegyi has been Ambassador to Ireland since March 2023.
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The meeting comes against a backdrop of rising tensions between Hungary and the European Union over its opposition to Ukraine' accession to the union.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has claimed during the last EU summit the leaders were given a document which showed plans to admit Ukraine in 2027.
“They want to admit Ukraine in 2027. This is because they want to give Ukraine money from the budget, the seven-year European budget starting in 2028. This means … it will be taken away from us, central Europeans,” he said.
Mr Orbán reiterated his opposition to Ukraine joining the EU, saying it would drag Europe into a war with Russia.
In a social media post, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his country's aim to join the EU in 2027.
However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said Ukraine joining the EU next year is "out of the question", and said such a fast accession is not feasible.
According to data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as of June 2025, over 80,000 Ukrainian refugees in Ireland there was just shy of 1,000 in Dundalk.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
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