Ireland and China
1. Ireland Serves as Guest Country of Honor for the Fourth China International Consumer Products Expo
Since the first China International Consumer Products Expo, Ireland has been actively involved and its cooperation with the Expo platform has become increasingly close. On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and China, Ireland has been invited to serve as the Guest Country of Honor for the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo in 2024. During the Expo, the Embassy of Ireland will organize several side events, including the grand opening ceremony of the Country of Honour Pavilion, a life sciences seminar, higher education exchanges, an Ireland Culture night, procurement matchmaking meetings, a new product launch, and a fashion show by innovative Irish fashion designers. The new product launch will feature the latest offerings from five Irish organisations and enterprises, some of which will be making their debut in China and even globally. The Ireland Culture Night event will showcase the unique flavours of Ireland with its food and beverage offerings, accompanied by Irish music and dance performances. Additionally, six Irish fashion designers will debut their brands in the Chinese market for the first time during the Expo fashion week, demonstrating the elegance of Ireland's fashion industry.
2. The National Dance Company of Ireland Performs at the Foot of Mount Tai
On March 27th, in Tai'an, Shandong Province, performers from the Irish National Dance Company performed tap dancing for tourists at the foot of Mount Tai. During the event, the National Dance Company of Ireland not only brought spectacular performances to the audience but also visited the Dai Temple, experiencing the profound cultural heritage of Mount Tai up close, deepening their understanding of the extensive and profound Chinese culture. Through Mount Tai as a window, they further enhanced their knowledge of China. The interpretation of this modern art form from Ireland had a wonderful collision with the ancient Chinese culture of Mount Tai, attracting a large number of citizens and tourists to stop and enjoy.
Politics
1. Simon Harris became the youngest Taoiseach
On March 20, 2024, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar held a press conference announcing his resignation as head of Fine Gael, as well as the Taoiseach at the end of the Easter holiday. He expressed his gratitude to his colleagues for their loyalty and support during difficult times. According to him, the resignation was motivated by both personal and political considerations. On March 24, Simon Harris was confirmed as the new leader of Fine Gael and will be formally elected Taoiseach of Ireland after the Easter recess.
Harris, 37, became the youngest prime minister in Irish history. Simon Harris's main political achievements come from being Minister for Health during the epidemic, a role that has given him a lot of political prestige. He is also very active on social media. The Party and the Irish government are hoping that Harris' high social media support will further reach out to younger voters in the country.
2. The two family referendums were rejected
On March 8, 2024, Ireland held referendums proposing constitutional amendments.
The 39th Amendment proposed to extend the definition of the family in 41.1.1°, including “family, whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships”. In addition, the 39th Amendment also proposed to amend 41.3.1°by deleting the statement that “Marriage, on which the Family is founded”.
The 40th Amendment called for the deletion of Article 42.1.1°which states that “The State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved” and Article 42.1.2°, which states that “The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.”. It is proposed that Article 42B be supplemented with a correction that “Care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them.”
Both the majority and opposition parties had called on people to support the changes. However, voters rejected the 39th Amendment by 67 percent, and the 40th Amendment was rejected by 74 percent of voters.
The failure of the referendum has put pressure on the government. The then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that when someones lose a referendum “this badly and by this margin”, it means there were a lot of people who got this wrong and he is certainly one of them. Asked about the potential impact of the defeat, Varadkar said it would be “two wallops” for the Coalition.
Economics
1. US artificial intelligence firm Anthropic is to open Dublin base
Anthropic, a prominent artificial intelligence firm based in the United States, has confirmed its plans to establish an office in Dublin. The company, supported by major players like Amazon, Google, is at the forefront of the rapidly growing AI sector, which has garnered significant attention from investors in recent years.
A spokesperson for Anthropic stated, "Our Dublin office will mark our inaugural presence in the European Union, with Ireland serving as our primary base." They highlighted Dublin's status as a leading tech hub in Europe, with strong ties to AI centers in cities such as London, Paris, and Berlin. The spokesperson further noted, "Ireland offers a pool of seasoned executive talent adept at expanding businesses across the EU, along with a robust workforce in science and technology. We intend to capitalize on these resources as we broaden our operations."
Society
1. Celebration of St Patrick’s Day in 2024
St Patrick's Day in Ireland is celebrated every year on the 17th of March with great festivities in Irish communities throughout Ireland and abroad. 2024's theme is Spréach, which means 'spark' in Irish.
Dublin's celebrations ran from 15th to 18th March. The St Patrick's Day Parade, which took place on 17 March, included 18 acts, including various groups and 14 parades from Ireland, North America and France. More than 500,000 spectators from all over the world gathered along the parade route to witness the grand performance.
Teachers and students from Confucius Institutes across Ireland showed Chinese culture, drawing attention and praise from the local communities. A contingent from the Confucius Institute of Chinese and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Galway participated in the festivities, featuring vibrant displays of Chinese elements such as dragon dancing, Tai Chi, and traditional Chinese ethnic costumes. They also delighted local children with adorable panda mascots. The Confucius Institute participants distributed vouchers for institute courses and activities, allowing more people to learn about and experience Chinese culture firsthand. Attendees of the parade expressed their understanding of Chinese culture and appreciation for the cultural exchange and integration between China and Ireland, thanks to the captivating performances and interactive experiences provided by the Confucius Institute contingent.
St Patrick's Day is also celebrated across the globe. Some cities in the United States (New York, Boston, Chicago) and others considered it an important holiday. The parade in Tokyo incorporated traditional Japanese and Irish costumes. Singapore celebrated the holiday by temporarily colouring its rivers green. Sydney hosted the largest celebration in the southern hemisphere. Auckland lit up the Sky Tower with the Irish Tricolour. Mumbai's Gateway of India was coloured green. Istanbul's pubs hosted Irish festivals. These celebrations highlight the global reach of St Patrick's Day and show how different cultures come together.
2. Protests Erupt Across Ireland: Opposition to Refugee Policy and Solidarity with Palestine Demonstrations
Two larger protests broke out in Ireland this month. At the end of March, protests erupted in the center of Coolock against the government’s decision to house over 500 asylum seekers in a disused warehouse in Coolock. The Irish people called for the safety of local people, rejected mass illegal immigration, and expressed concern about current refugee policy. On the evening of March 24, the number of protesters spiked to over 2,000.
Another protest, in solidarity with Palestine, erupted in Dublin on 23 March, attracting thousands of people. Organized by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign(IPSC), the “National Demonstration for Palestine” marked the fifth such mobilization since last October. Protesters demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for the Irish government to hold Israel accountable for a “genocidal assault”. The demonstration, backed by over 120 civil society organizations, showcased a broad coalition of political parties, trade unions, students, and community groups advocating for meaningful sanctions on Israel and the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland.
Culture
1. Cillian Murphy wins best actor in 2024 Oscars for Oppenheimer
Cillian Murphy has clinched the Oscar for Best Actor at the 96th Academy Awards for his remarkable portrayal in Oppenheimer. In this biopic depicting the life of pioneering atomic-weapons scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, Murphy delivered a stellar performance under the direction of Christopher Nolan. Murphy's win marks a significant achievement, placing him among the esteemed ranks of Irish Oscar winners. He joins the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis, who though born in London, proudly holds Irish citizenship, and Barry Fitzgerald, who secured the honor back in 1945.
2. Three Irish nominated for 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction
In the lineup for the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction, notable recognition is extended to three Irish authors: Anne Enright, Claire Kilroy, and Megan Nolan. Monica Ali, who chairs this year’s judging panel, said she is impressed by the strength of the Irish representation, on a par with the US contingent.
Anne Enright, a seasoned contender with previous shortlist and longlist appearances, garners attention once more for her latest offering, "The Wren, The Wren," about the inheritance of trauma, wonder, and love across three generations of women. Claire Kilroy’s "The Soldier, Sailor" delves into themes of motherhood and independence, while Megan Nolan earns recognition for her effort in "Ordinary Human Failings".
3. Irish wolfhound Has Been in New Irish Passport Design
Ireland is set to change its passport design. The current passport design was introduced in 2013 and featured a map of the entire island of Ireland. Previous polls have shown that the Irish wolfhound is a favourite. The Irish wolfhound is Ireland's iconic animal and is the world's tallest hunting dog. The latest version of the passport will be issued next year.
Gaeilge
1. Dublin City Council held the first meeting in Irish
The Dublin City Council held its first meeting in March entirely in the Irish language, marking a significant change for the council that has primarily communicated in English for over 100 years since Irish independence, during the 354 terms of mayoral office.
The meeting discussed several Irish initiatives, including Spraoi na Sráide focusing on community arts development and DCC program “Gaeilge 365” aimed at promoting increased usage of the Irish language. Among the 22 agendas listed in the bilingual meeting information, a key agenda was the report on promoting Irish language in Dublin City (cur chun cinn na Gaeilge i gCathair Bhaile Átha Cliath). Daithí de Róiste,the Lord Mayor of Dublin, expressed optimism about the revival of the language in Irish, stating that there is a growing Irish speaking community in Dublin with good proficiency and increasing enthusiasm among younger generations.
2. Strategy for Irish Language- Based Arts Action Plan
The Irish government has announced the implementation of a three-year (2024-2027) “Irish Language Arts Strategy”. The strategy aims to promote the development of Irish language arts and integrate the Irish language into the education system, including early education. It is known that approximately 20 million euros will be invested in this strategy.
