Failte Ireland has announced a new festival series that will be poised along the Wild Atlantic Way between Donegal and Limerick.
The €210,000 in funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been granted as part of four festivals and events due to take place in these areas.
In Donegal, the initiative is supporting a Genealogy and Traditional Music Weekend which runs from 20th to 21st October.
The initiative will remember Donegal 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.
Announcing the Global Irish Festival Series, Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciaran Cannon, said: “We are delighted to announce the new Global Irish Festival Series, an initiative which will enable local communities to further build upon diaspora networks, deepening connections around the world and encouraging those abroad to return home.
“By improving engagement with the diaspora through new channels, we hope they will feel affirmed and valued as a part of the global Irish diaspora, and in particular, connected to the county of their heritage.”
Brendan Griffin, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, said the festival was the perfect way to ‘attract overseas visitors’.
“The Global Irish Festival Series is the perfect way to 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.”
In Limerick, the Festival Series is supporting I.NY which runs from 7th to 14th October, exploring the deep connection between Ireland and New York City.
The Richard Harris International Film Festival also takes place from 25th to 29th October, marking the life and works of Limerick’s most famous actor.
The Global Irish Festival Series is also being launched in the US this September at the Consulate General of Ireland in New York in partnership with Tourism Ireland.
To find out more about the Global Irish Festival Series, see www.wildatlanticway.com/globalirish.
Tags: