PRESS RELEASE
‘I LOVE MY CITY’
ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL ANNOUNCE NEW PROGRAMME TO CELEBRATE IRISH CULTURE
March 2012: Become a tourist in your own city this St. Patrick’s Festival, as locals and tourists alike are
invited to explore a fantastic range of the city’s cultural highlights from a brand new perspective. Make
the most of the bank holiday weekend by getting to know your capital city with free entry to cultural
events on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th March, and a full programme of events for all ages and interests.
Entitled ‘I Love My City’, these happenings will be staged over two days as part of the Festival in venues
and spaces in the Georgian Quarter - stretching from Merrion Square to Kildare Street.
The special programme of nine headline events will showcase music including the Dublin Laptop
Orchestra with violinist Katie House at the Royal Hibernian Academy and The Art of Music presented by
Donal Dineen at the National Gallery. The Art of Music is an illustrated guide to the sounds that have
inspired painters, photographers and film-makers. This event will feature visuals, live painting and live
musical accompaniment from Irish fiddle player Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh, cellist Kate Ellis and uilleann
pipes player Maitiú O'Casaide.
Also on the programme, the Pivot Dublin Exhibition at the National Library will provide a taste of the
magic and power of Irish design. Story-telling, interviews and a debate on the Irish Identity will also be
staged. All headline events are free to attend, however spaces for some events are limited so register
early on www.stpatricksfestival.ie and reserve your place to avoid disappointment.
You can also kick off the Festival with a performance and workshop in rhythm led by Brian Fleming,
Solomon Ijigade and Andrew MacCarthy in the National Museum on Kildare Street on Friday 16th. This
family event will begin with a performance by the trio, after which everyone will get involved in learning
a song, some Irish dancing and a bodhrán performance. The event will finish with a grand finale with
everyone singing, dancing and drumming together.
Following on from the parade, and making its debut in Ireland, ‘The Guide’ will bring audiences on a
narrative journey in The National Gallery. Using headphones for this audio tour, the guide's narration
takes on unexpected dimensions and the museum environment becomes part of the story. A theatre
performance brought to you by La Reial Companyia de Teatre de Catalunya.
Other events around the Georgian Quarter include the Natural History Museum, Family Architecture
Tours at Merrion Square, Science Gallery, National Gallery of Ireland, and much more.
I Love My City will also encompass a whole host of institutions outside of the Georgian Quarter,
including events in National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Temple Bar,
St. Patrick’s Cathedral and everywhere in between. The diverse range of events has something for
everyone from art, photography and science exhibitions to family architectural tours, plays and
performances as well as music and spoken word.
Speaking at the launch of ‘I LOVE MY CITY’, Minister Jimmy Deenihan TD said “It gives me great pleasure
to launch a new cultural programme as part of the 2012 St. Patrick's Festival. St. Patrick's Day and its
surrounding festivities provide us with an ideal opportunity to celebrate what it means to be Irish,
central to which is our unique Irish culture and heritage. There are two elements to the programme - an
International Celebration of Irish Culture which builds on existing festival activities with a view to
maximising key markets internationally - and a domestic element, ‘I LOVE MY CITY’, a special
programme of events in some of our key cultural institutions to allow us to engage with the best of our
Irish culture and heritage at home. I would encourage you all to participate and enjoy the many and
diverse events on offer.”
And why not take a leisurely stroll to Dublin’s Creative Quarter and whet your appetite for Irish design?
You can watch Irish designers at work and experience their wonderful craftsmanship first hand. Visitors
and residents of Dublin are invited to experience a collection of Irish design and innovation, taking place
in 23 venues, from fashion boutiques to coffee shops, in one city centre location. See craft in action in
Project51, listen to a history of the Creative Quarter in Om Diva and Blind Tiger Collective will be
launching a new range of t-shirts ‘Project A Apparel’. Special late night opening in all participating
venues.
St. Patrick’s Festival and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, through ‘Culture Ireland’,
will celebrate Irish culture internationally by staging events in cities all over the world, including Beijing,
New York, London, Moscow and Paris, aiming to raise the profile of Ireland abroad at this important
time.
Speaking about the programme CEO of St. Patrick’s Festival, Susan Kirby said ‘I LOVE MY CITY’ is a
fantastic addition to the Festival this year. It offers locals and visitors a chance to embrace the fullness of
the Irish culture while enjoying some of the most beautiful and historic venues in the country. ‘I LOVE
MY CITY’ will highlight the richness of Irish culture.’
The 2012 St. Patrick’s Festival will highlight the country’s strong links to the world of science celebrating
Dublin as the designated City of Science 2012. The iconic Festival parade and ever-popular city Treasure
Hunt are this year inspired by the how, what and why of science. Dublin will come alive with pageantry,
carnivals and free entertainment from 16th – 19th March, drawing from the very best in Irish and
international talent. In addition to the cultural programme, Festival favourites the Céilí (March 16th) and
Big Day Out (March 18th) also return following a huge attendance last year.
Citywide, our cultural institutions will also be staging a variety of activities and interesting events that
are a must see at Festival time. Check www.stpatricksfestival.ie for more’ I Love My City’ events.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Chris Kelly, Fleishman-Hillard, on 01 6188415/ 0863096427 or [email protected]
Kevin Moore, Fleishman-Hillard, on 01 6188499/ 0868252611 or [email protected]
Notes to Editors:
I LOVE MY CITY PROGRAMME LISTING
GIVE IT A BANG
Friday 16th March
The National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street
The Ceramics Room, 1st Floor
Time: 1.00pm & 3.00pm (Each workshop will last 45 minutes)
A performance and workshop in rhythm led by Brian Fleming, Solomon Ijigade and Andrew MacCarthy.
This family event will begin with a performance by the trio, after which everyone will get involved in
learning a song, some Irish dancing and participating in a bodhrán performance. The event will finish
with a grand finale performance with the audience singing, dancing and drumming together!
THE ART OF MUSIC
The National Gallery, Clare Street
Friday 16th March
Time: 6.30pm-7.30pm
Presented by Donal Dineen, pioneering photographer and film-maker, The Art of Music is an illustrated
guide to the sounds that have inspired painters, photographers and film-makers. This event will feature
film & photography from Donal Dineen, live painting by Guillermo Carrion and live musical
accompaniment from renowned traditional Irish fiddle player Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh and the
captivating uillean pipes player Maitiú O'Casaide.
DUBLIN LAPTOP ORCHESTRA w/ VIOLINIST KATIE HOUSE
Friday 16th March
Royal Hibernian Academy, Ely Place
Time: 7.30pm-8.30pm
The Dublin Laptop Orchestra, set up in 2011, aim to bring some theatricality and physical presence in to
electronic music. Making music with lots of laptops, hands, golf controllers and lots of other things, they
certainly do just that. With a particular interest in collaborating with traditional musicians, for this
special show they will join forces with American violinist Katie House, who while in Ireland is a member
of the chamber group, Ensemble Maynooth.
PURE IRISH
Friday 16th March
National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace
The Kevin Barry Room
Time: 8.30pm-10pm
Curated by musician Peter Browne, this will be a night of traditional Irish music and dance at its very
best. Performers include Peter Browne on accordian, Paul Browne on guitar and Irish dancers Tom
Conroy and Sue Devine. Peter has performed with many musicians and bands over the years, including
Kila, Emer Mayock and Slide. Paul will join him with his unique rhythmic style of guitar accompaniment
for traditional music. Tom and Sue, who have performed all over the world, will add to this lively scene
with magnificent traditional Irish dance pieces.
PIVOT DUBLIN EXHIBITION - DESIGN IS FOR EVERYONE
Friday 16th & Saturday 17th March
The National Library, Kildare Street
The Old Director’s Office
Time: Friday 9.30am-4.45pm. Saturday 2.30pm-6.00pm
This exhibition in the National Library brings you a taste of the magic and power of Irish design. Set in a
Room of Visual Curiosities and Books, you will see examples of Irish design’s unique voice and character
- that of storytelling, empathy, creativity, conversation, ambition, humour and optimism.
The purpose of PIVOT Dublin is to explain, demonstrate and celebrate design's positive impact on our
lives. Born out of Dublin's bid to be designated World Design Capital in 2014, PIVOT Dublin continues as
a platform from which we can appreciate and apply design in how we think, plan and act to make our
world more humane, attractive and competitive.
www.pivotdublin.com
LA REIAL
Saturday 17th March
The National Gallery, Clare Street
Time: 1pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm
(Each performance is 30 minutes)
Making its debut in Ireland, ‘The Guide’ will bring audiences on a narrative journey in The National
Gallery. Using headphones for this audio tour, the guide's narration takes on unexpected dimensions
and the museum environment becomes part of the story. The voice of the guide will gradually tell a
story, his story. A theatre performance brought to you by La Reial Companyia de Teatre de Catalunya
created by Barcelona Theatre Institute graduates, Laia Alsina and Jordi Centellas.
LEVIATHAN presents CultureShock: Irish Identity in Crisis?
Saturday 17th March
Royal Hibernian Academy, Ely Place
Time: 3.00pm-4.30pm
Ireland is emerging from one of the most challenging economic crises in its existence but how has it
affected our culture? Some suggest we have rediscovered a creative side that was suppressed by the
economic boom; others that creativity inevitably flourishes in recession. As we approach the centenary
of the 1916 Rising, is this a rare and remarkable moment in time at which we can really shape what
Ireland’s culture will become and how it will be perceived for this and future generations?
Panel includes Eugene Downes (chief executive, Culture Ireland); Dylan Haskins (broadcaster, political
and cultural activist); Sinead Gleeson (arts and culture journalist) and others to be announced. Hosted
by Naoise Nunn, director of Leviathan political cabaret and MindField festival of ideas.
THE HARP - OLD AND NEW
Saturday 17th March
The National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street
Time: 3.00pm-4.00pm
Join internationally-renowned harpist, Anne-Marie O'Farrell for a performance on our national
instrument, the harp. She will be joined by the Kylemore Harp Ensemble in a recital featuring traditional
Irish dance music and airs, work by George Frideric Handel, Turlough O' Carolan and more recent music
by T.C. Kelly and Rachel Holstead.
PIPE DREAMS
Saturday 17th March
The Reading Room, The National Library, Kildare Street
Time: 4.30pm-5.30pm
A unique opportunity to attend a special music event in the exceptional surroundings of The Reading
Room at The National Library of Ireland. Featuring Donal Dineen, pioneering dj and film-maker, in
conversation with one of Ireland's most brilliant young uilleann pipe players, Maitiú O'Casaide. Together
they will explore the magical sounds of the uilleann pipes.