I.NY is delighted to partner with Failte Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to present this year’s festival programme under the new and exciting Global Irish Festival Series, which aims to encourage our diaspora to return home to visit Ireland. Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciaran Cannon, launched the new Global Irish Festival Series at Shannon Airport on 21 August 2018, and commented;
“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 event organisers which tap into international diaspora networks. We are delighted to be part of this exciting new initiative, which is being piloted along the Wild Atlantic Way in Limerick and Donegal this October. 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. Commenting on the new festival series and its potential to grow tourism in the regions outside of high season, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin, said: “The Global Irish Festival Series will attract overseas visitors and support local communities and we look forward to welcoming our diaspora home to enjoy these great festivals and events this autumn.” Fáilte Ireland’s Head of Festivals, Ciara Sugrue, said:
“The Global Irish Festival Series is a very exciting initiative and we are delighted to work with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to motivate diaspora to reconnect by visiting their home county. The festivals and events supported through the series will help drive tourism to specific locations, including regional areas outside of current hotspots, creating new economic benefits for local communities. As these events take place in the ‘shoulder seasons’ each side of summer, they will also help tourism operators to trade for longer.
The Global Irish Festival Series is also being launched in the US this September, alongside the 2018 I.NY and the Richard Harris Festivals, at the Consul General of Ireland in New York in conjunction with Tourism Ireland. To find out more about the Global Irish Festival Series, see www.wildatlanticway.com/globalirish and keep an eye out for some exciting 2018 I.NY programme announcements coming soon…