Minister of State for European Affairs, Peter Burke TD, launched the 2023 Francophonie Festival this morning in Iveagh House.
The Francophonie Festival takes place every year in Ireland, this year from the 3rd to the 26th of March, and is a celebration of the French language and cultural diversity in the French-speaking world. The 2023 Francophonie Festival will once again showcase a variety of cultural events involving music, literature, film and history along with talks, debates and contests.
Speaking after the ceremony, Minister of State for European Affairs, Peter Burke TD said:
“I was honoured to launch this year’s Francophonie festival this morning, a further opportunity to both acknowledge and celebrate the deep appreciation which exists in Ireland for the French language and culture as well as the richness and diversity of the Francophone world.”
“I was also very pleased that we could be joined today to open the formal proceedings by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland, H.E Larysa Gerasko, whose presence serves as a timely reminder to us all of those values, and not least respect for human rights and the rule of law, which unite Ukraine, Ireland and all those countries proud to call themselves members of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).”
“I also wish to congratulate author Colm Tóibín, and translator, Anna Gibson, for winning the 2023 Ireland Francophonie Ambassador’s Literary Award, and offer congratulations for all authors nominated. This is a prestigious award which only reaffirms the deep appreciation which exists for Irish literature within the international francophone community.”
ENDS
Press Office
03 March 2023
Note to Editors:
Ireland joined the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), with Observer status, at the 17th Summit in Yerevan, Armenia in 2018. https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2018/october/ireland-granted-observer-status-at-the-organisation-internationale-de-la-francophonie.php
Previous Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD, attended the 18th Summit in Djerba, Tunisia in Nov 2022: https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2022/november/minister-byrne-to-represent-ireland-at-18th-summit-of-the-oif.php
Information on the Ireland Ambassador’s Francophonie Literary Award can be found here: https://ie.ambafrance.org/Ireland-Francophonie-Ambassadors-Literary-Award-2023
The programme for the 2023 Francophonie Festival can be found here: https://ie.ambafrance.org/Programme-Francophonie-Festival-2023