merrion street

Thursday, July 3rd 2014: Jimmy Deenihan T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, will this evening launch the PhotoIreland Festival 2014 in The Banquet Hall, Smock Alley, Dublin 2 at 7.00p.m.

PhotoIreland celebrates a festival every year from the 1st to the 31st of July, offering exhibitions of national and international artists in over 30 venues around Dublin city. The festival programme includes talks, workshops and film projections. The exhibitions and talks are free to all audiences. The first festival was launched in July 2010 and this year they celebrate the 5th edition. They were awarded the David Manley Arts Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011.

Speaking in advance of the launch, Minister Deenihan commented:

"Events like the PhotoIreland Festival matter. I have always believed that the visual arts, of which photography is an important element, represent a very important part of our heritage and it is essential that they are preserved into the future. Photography is one of the most accessible art forms. The presentation of images – their capture and creation has become an inescapable part of daily life, as well as a global, multi-million dollar industry. Angel and his team are to be commended on a wonderful festival which is free of charge to the public and I would encourage everyone who can to visit the various events this July.”