New Global Irish Festival Series to Celebrate Diaspora
News
21 August 2018
Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciaran Cannon, today announced the launch of the new Global Irish Festival Series, a joint initiative between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Fáilte Ireland, which aims to encourage our diaspora to return home to visit Ireland.
Announcing the Global Irish Festival Series, Minister of State Cannon said:
“I am delighted to announce the new Global Irish Festival Series. This initiative will enable local communities to further build upon diaspora networks, deepen connections around the world and encourage those abroad to return home. Engaging with the diaspora through new channels, we are able to re-affirm the value of our global Irish diaspora and re connect them to the county of their heritage.”
The new festival series provides funding and support to local and community event organisers which tap into international diaspora networks. The Global Irish Festival Series will be piloted along the Wild Atlantic Way in Limerick and Donegal this October, with €210,000 in funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade granted for the four festivals and events in these areas.
In Limerick, the Global Irish Festival Series is supporting I.NY which runs from 7th to 14th October, exploring the deep connection between Ireland and New York City and the Richard Harris International Film Festival which takes place from 25th to 29th October, marking the life and works of Limerick’s most famous actor.
In Donegal, the initiative is supporting a Genealogy and Traditional Music Weekend which runs from 20th to 21st October, remembering our ancestors who travelled to Scotland to work in the twentieth century and an Inter-generational Sporting Weekend which takes place from 27th to 28th October, celebrating Donegal’s connection with football.
To find out more about the Global Irish Festival Series, see www.wildatlanticway.com/globalirish.
