Ireland and China
1. Ireland celebrated Chinese New Year
During the celebration of the Chinese New Year this year, Ireland held a series of "Happy Chinese New Year" celebrating activities.
A performance troupes from China provided several rounds of audio-visual feasts for the Irish people. The activity themed “Joyful Dragon Happy Chinese New Year” was successfully held at the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, receiving a warm welcome from various sectors of the local community. The Confucius Institute at University College Cork, Chinese Students & Scholars Association Ireland, and the Confucius Institute at University College Dublin successively organized activities to celebrate Chinese New Year, which made overseas compatriots in Ireland feel a strong festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year. At the same time, it has also showed traditional Chinese culture to the Irish people, spreading the values of harmony, reunion and sharing, enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and Ireland.
2. Ambassador He Xiangdong Attended the Briefing Organized by Asia Matters
On 7th February, Ambassador He Xiangdong attended a briefing organized by Asia Matters and delivered a keynote speech. Up to 60 people from various sectors in Ireland attended the briefing, including government officials, members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, representatives from the business and academia. He Xiangdong believes that Premier Li Qiang's visit to Ireland has yielded fruitful results and has been of great significance for enhancing cooperation between the two countries. He believed that China is willing to work with Ireland by deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, making a joint effort to cope with challenges, better benefitting the people of both countries on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ireland.
3. Chinese film Article 20 hits Irish cinemas
On February 23rd, Article 20, a hit film during the Chinese Spring Festival, made its debut in Irish cinemas. As a grounded Chinese “legal education film”, it adopts a comedic approach with sufficient dramatic conflict. The international screening of Article 20 not only serves as an opportunity to showcase Chinese cultural products but also acts as a window for the world to view China's national image, particularly highlighting the country's commitment to the socialist rule of law with distinctive Chinese features.
Politics
1. Michelle O’Neill becomes the first nationalist First Minister in Northern Ireland
On February 3, Michelle O’Neill was sworn in as Chief Minister of Northern Ireland. She is the first nationalist in this position in the pro-British Northern Ireland government since the split of the north and the south in 1921.Michelle O’Neill is from Sinn Féin. She said she would serve all people equally whether they were unionists or nationalists, and would be wholeheartedly committed to promoting cooperation and reconciliation of all people.
On February 5, she met the Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Stormont Castle.
Economics
1. EU adopts instant payments rules
The European Union adopted a new rule that will allow customers to transfer euro-denominated money within 10 seconds at any time, including outside business hours. This rule would factor in countries outside of the euro-zone economic bloc, and users could transfer money not only within the same country but also to another EU member state. This would make a difference to the situation now when payments using existing cards and deposits can take several business days. The new rule will improve the strategic autonomy of the European economic and financial sector as they will help reduce any excessive reliance on third-country financial institutions and infrastructures, such as US firms Visa and Mastercard.
Society
1. €21 million program to improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure
On February 14th, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has launched a €21 million program to improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure on major interurban routes in Ireland. The initiative focuses on motorways and dual carriageways, encouraging the installation of high-capacity recharging stations every 60km, each delivering 1200kW of power.
2. An anti-immigration protest and a counter-protest took place in Dublin
On February 5th, 11 people were arrested by the Gardai during the separation of an anti-immigration demonstration and a counter-protest in Dublin. The anti-immigration event, attracting around 1,000 participants, proceeded down O'Connell Street. Some protesters displayed Irish flags and signs with slogans like "Ireland is full" and "Irish Lives Matter." Simultaneously, a pro-refugee rally drew several hundred attendees, featuring a speech by People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd-Barrett. To prevent clashes, a substantial Gardai presence, including mounted officers, formed a barrier as the protests passed each other.
3. 1200 new Irish citizens attend Citizenship Ceremonies in National Concert Hall Dublin
On February 26th, 1,200 individuals from 105 countries will be granted Irish citizenship at Dublin's National Concert Hall. These new citizens represent a diverse and inclusive addition to the Irish workforce, with over 10% working in the healthcare industry throughout Ireland. Both Minister Paschal Donohoe and Minister of State James Browne will be present at the ceremonies to personally welcome and congratulate as many new citizens as possible.
Irish citizenship ceremonies, introduced in 2011, mark the final step in becoming an Irish citizen. Planned periodically throughout the year, ceremony events aim to grant citizenship to foreign nationals in a dignified manner.
Culture
1. DIFF Awards 2024 announced
The Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) has revealed the recipients of several prestigious awards, including the Discovery Award, the Short Film Awards, and the Documentary Award. Tj O’Grady-Peyton’s Room Taken emerged victorious, weaving a compelling narrative around the lives of a visually impaired elderly woman. The film skillfully navigates themes of displacement and human connection, earning it the title of Best Irish Fiction. Meanwhile, Dennis Harvey's documentary The Building and Burning of a Refugee Camp clinched the award for Best Irish Documentary. Offering a poignant exploration of the struggles faced by asylum seekers in Ireland, the film sheds light on the harsh realities confronting those seeking sanctuary in a hostile environment.
Founded in 2003, the Dublin International Film Festival is Ireland's annual film event.
Gaeilge
1. Chairman of the Irish Department of Education called for support in the early education sector
The Connemara Seaside Family Support Center (Ionaid Tacaíochta Teaghlaigh, ITT), one of the largest childcare centers in the Gaeltacht, is facing closure due to a shortage of staff. While difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff are already a nationwide issue in childcare centers, it is even more challenging for early education centers providing services exclusively in Irish—they cannot recruit employees from other EU countries. Michael S. MacDonald, Chairman of the Irish Department of Education, stated that ITT's predicament highlights insufficient support for the early education sector and the overall Irish-language preschool education system in the country.There is urgent need for the government to examine the entire early education industry, coordinate teacher training programs, establish appropriate teacher salaries and job responsibilities.
