Over 250 Irish artists will take part in a variety of cultural events across Europe organised to coincide with Ireland's six-month EU Presidency, it was announced today.
The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, said today €3.9 million will be spent on the events, which are designed to celebrate Ireland's presidency.
"This wonderful programme will ensure that our rich culture stands before the EU, our new neighbours and the world as a celebration of diversity, communality and the power of human imagination, at one of the most critical times in the development of a new Europe and a new world", he said.
The Cultural Programme begins with exhibitions of photography and literature in Brussels, as well as a series of concerts.
Over the next six months, Irish musical groups as diverse as rockers Belle X1, the Crash Ensemble and the Irish Chamber Orchestra will play across the ten accession states prior to their formal admission on May 1st.
There will also be major events in Bucharest and Sofia on St Patrick's Day.
A number of major theatrical productions are planned, while the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival in February will host a season of work from filmmakers from each of the accession countries, entitled 'Welcome to Europe'.
The final months of the Irish Presidency will see leading artists and performers from the newly-admitted EU states at further festivals and art centres around the country.
One of the highlights of the programme will be the Dublin Elevations festival, which takes place in the week leading up to the Day of Welcomes on May 1st. A website, http://www.dublinelevation.net, will allow the public to choreograph their own personal lightshow on the buildings of O'Connell Street using 18 searchlights.
There will also be a massive fireworks show and a concert featuring Irish and international bands in Dublin city centre, which will be televised by RTÉ and the BBC.