Cultural Relations

Against the backdrop of Ireland's rich heritage in the arts, literature and design, the Cultural Section of the Promoting Ireland Abroad Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs works primarily through the Department's network of Embassies abroad and in co-operation with other government departments, state bodies and individuals.

The Cultural Section works closely with the Department of Education and Science to promote educational exchanges abroad, and interacts with the Fulbright Commission on the administration of the Commission's programme of scholarly exchanges with the United States.

The Cultural Section supports the promotional role of Irish Embassies abroad through the funding of Irish cultural events, including exhibitions, concerts, readings,lectures and other supports.

The Section cooperates closely with Culture Ireland, a national agency, established in February,2005, for the promotion of Irish arts and artists overseas. Further information on Culture Ireland is available here.

The Section has recently produced two travelling exhibitions on the life and work of James Joyce (2004) and Samuel Beckett (2006)

"International Joyce" Travelling Exhibition (2004)

The "International Joyce" catalogue is available here (PDF 2725kb)

Beckett Travelling Exhibition (2006)

The Beckett Travelling Exhibition catalogue is available here (PDF 868kb).

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations.

Ireland and Japan celebrated, in 2007, the 50 th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. As part of the series of events organised that year to commemorate the event, Cultural Section sponsored the publication by Dedalus Press of an anthology of contemporary Irish poetry, edited by Irene De Angelis,PhD(University of Turin) and Joseph Woods, Director of Poetry Ireland. Each poem in the anthology entitled Our Shared Japan  was in some way, directly or indirectly influenced by Japan and its culture. The title of the anthology is taken from the late Seán Dunne's poem The Frail Sprig.

For those who are interested in buying a copy of Our Shared Japan one should contact

Government Publications, Sales Office,
Sun Alliance House,
Moleworth Street,
Dublin 2   
IRELAND

Tel: + 353 1 6476879
Mail Order, Sales 353 1 6476000 

Centre Culturel Irlandais

The Centre Culturel Irlandais is located in the magnificent building of the Collège des Irlandais in the heart of Paris. The Centre profiles the culture of contemporary Ireland and also promotes Franco-Irish cultural relations.

To visit the website of the Centre Culturel Irlandais (Irish Cultural Centre) in Paris, click here.

The Fulbright Commission

The Irish Fulbright Commission, an official educational exchange programme between the Governments of the United States and Ireland, finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States.

To visit the Official Fulbright Website, click here.

Cultural Relations with other Countries

An expenditure review of Ireland’s cultural relations programme in 2000-2002 was carried out in 2004. It is temporarily unavailable to download, but will be available here shortly