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Minister of State Michael Ring launches St Patrick's Day Festival

Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan today announced an international programme of arts and culture events for the St Patrick’s Festival period. This programme aims to enhance the overall impact of the St Patrick’s Day period by promoting Irish arts and culture on the international stage.

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, through the Culture Ireland programme, has allocated funding of approximately €250,000 to over 40 events taking place in 18 countries on or around St Patrick’s Day in 18 countries.

There will be a special focus on several key cities including Beijing, Moscow, and Paris, while the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have been identified as priority destinations where there are major English language markets.

Minister Deenihan commented:

The international reach of St Patrick’s Day is the envy of many countries. At this time of each year the spotlight of the world is on Ireland and it is the perfect opportunity for us to showcase the best of our arts, culture and film. It is also a time to reaffirm Ireland’s story of recovery, and to present a very positive view of Ireland on the world stage.

The preparation of a programme of international cultural events to coincide with St Patrick’s Day is an initiative I want to expand in the years ahead so that our national holiday is known as an International Day of Irish Culture.