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.
