David J. Cooney facts for kids

David J. Cooney (born on April 29, 1954) is an important Irish diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country and works to build good relationships with other nations. They often live and work in other countries, helping to solve problems and make agreements.

Cooney was born in London. He studied Politics and History at Keele University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After university, he first worked for the Department of Agriculture from 1974 to 1979. Since then, he has worked for Ireland's Foreign Ministry, which is the part of the government that handles relationships with other countries.

Helping with Peace in Ireland

One of David Cooney's most important roles was helping with the talks that led to the Belfast Agreement. This agreement, signed in 1998, was a major step towards peace in Northern Ireland. George Mitchell, who led the peace talks, called Cooney one of the "unsung heroes of the peace process." This means Cooney did a lot of important work behind the scenes that helped make the peace agreement happen, even if he wasn't always in the spotlight.

Representing Ireland Around the World

David Cooney has served as an Ambassador for Ireland in several key positions:

• He was an Ambassador to the United Nations. The United Nations is a big international organization where countries work together on global issues like peace, human rights, and development.
• He also served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom, which is a very important neighbor for Ireland.

In December 2008, it was announced that Cooney would become the Secretary-General at the Department of Foreign Affairs in January 2009. This is a very senior role, meaning he was in charge of the daily operations of Ireland's foreign policy.

Ambassador to the Vatican and Spain

After his time as Secretary-General, Cooney continued his diplomatic career:

• In January 2012, he became the first Irish ambassador to the Holy See (the Vatican) who did not live there full-time. He presented his official "credentials" (documents that show he is authorized to represent his country) to Pope Benedict XVI.
• In September 2014, he presented his credentials to King Felipe VI and became the new Irish ambassador to Spain.

Recognition and Awards

In 2009, Keele University, where David Cooney studied, gave him an honorary doctorate. This is a special award given to people who have achieved great things, recognizing his important contributions.