IWAV Charity Christmas Bazaar 2011

On Saturday 3 December, volunteers and customers were once again out in force in support of the Irish coffee stand at the 2011 IWAV Christmas Charity Bazaar.

The stand's team of ever-enthusiastic coffee makers helped raise over 4,900 LTL (€1,400) for some very worthwhile causes in Lithuania! Full details of the beneficiaries of the Bazaar can be found on the IWAV website.

As always, the stand could not take place without the support of the local Irish and Lithuanian communities, and the Embassy would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to the following:-

Irish stand volunteers and assistants

• Agne (and also for her ver popular chocolate Guinness cake!)
• Lilija
• Edita
• Milda
• Anne
• Ernesta
• Aidan 
• Paul 
• Vidas 

Irish Stand Sponsors

• Pernod Ricard Lietuva
• BNTP (James Clarke)
• Šaltinėlio Vandenys
• John Scally
• Hotel Tilto
• Embassy of Ireland 

Irish Community Raffle Prize Donors

• Hotel Tilto
• Bistro 18

More photos to follow...

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20th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

On 9 November the Embassy hosted a celebration of 20 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Lithuania.

Over 200 guests attended a concert of traditional music and dance at the New York Club, at which Lily Neill (harp), Denis McLaughlin (balladeer) and the Doyle School of Dancing (Scoil Rince Uí Dhubhaill) all performed. Photos from the night can be seen here.

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Certificate of Irish Heritage

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, T.D., recently launched the Certificate of Irish Heritage. Issuance of the Certificates is operated by the Irish company FEXCO.

The first Certificate of Irish Heritage was awared to to the family of Joseph Gerard Hunter, a New York Fireman, who lost his life in the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre.

Full details of the Certificate and how to apply can be found on the Certificate of Irish Heritage website: www.heritagecertificate.ie. You can read more about the Certificate here.

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Glór na nGael - Irish-language Christmas Card Competition

Hot on the heels of September's Irish appearance at the European Day of Languages Language Fair, details have been announced of Glór na nGael’s annual Irish-language Christmas Card competition for Irish speakers living overseas. This competition is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Emigrant Support Programme (ESP). Please note the deadline for submissions to Ireland is 31 October 2011. The competition is open to children and adults, with a prize of €500 for the best three cards in each category (U16 and 16+).

Full  information and contact details are available from Glor na nGael’s website at: 

English :     http://www.glornangael.ie/cartlann-preas-raitis-2009/art-competition-for-irish.html

Gaeilge :    http://www.glornangael.ie/cartlann-preas-raitis-2009/comortas-ealain-do-na-gaeil.html

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Embassy collaboration with the 2011 Kaunas International Film Festival :

Film: The Other Side of Sleep

As part of the Embassy's 2011 Cultural Programme, the Embassy is delighted to inform you of the inclusion of the Irish film "The Other Side of Sleep" in the programme of the Kaunas International Film Festival.

The film is showing on Friday October 7th at 22:00 and Sunday October 9th at 18:30 in the Cinamon Cinema in Kaunas. Further details of the film and the festival are available here: http://www.kinofestivalis.lt/en/films/The-Other-Side-of-Sleep

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Irish at the European Day of Languages - 24 September

The Embassy was delighted to participate in this year's European Day of Languages Language Fair. The Fair, which celebrated its 10th Anniversary this year, took place in the courtyard of the Teachers' House at 39 Vilniaus g., Vilnius (across from St. Catherine's Church) on the afternoon of Saturday 24th September.

The Language Fair sported stands from many different embassies and cultural/language institutes, language workshops, and cultural performances (such as dances, songs and poetry) in different languages and traditions. There were also written and oral quizes throughout the afternoon, with prizes great and small. The day was finished off by a performance by Lithuania's 2011 Eurovision performer, Evelina Sašenko.

The Irish stand was busy throughout the day, and it was great to see so much interest in the Irish language and visiting Ireland - and also to see so many of the Irish community come out in support.

The Embassy would particularly like to thank Ms. Caoilfhinn Jennings, who provided the Irish performance during the concert - the recitation, as Gaeilge, of the poem Scéal by Colette Nic Aodha, and for her very able assistance manning the stand when she was not on stage!  

The Embassy would also like to acknowledge the support of Forás na Gaeilge, which provided much of the Irish-language material distributed on the day.

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2011 KVP (Klaipeda Business Park) Charity Football Cup

On 27 August, Ambassador Murnaghan presented awards to the winning, and participating, teams in the 2011 KVP Charity Football Cup, organised each year by BNTP  Baltic Real Estate Developments.

This year, the Charity Cup raised 30,000 LTL for the day-care centre "Kelias Kartu", which provides day care for disabled children. The donation will go towards the purchase of therapy equipment for the children.

The Ambassador congratulated all the participants and organisers, for the fantastic contribution they were making to their local community through their fund-raising activities.

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Ambassador Murnaghan visits Novinki Institution (Orphanage), Minsk

On 17 August, Ambassador Murnaghan visited the Novinki Institution in Minsk (Belarus), where she met the Director and staff and spent time with some of the children.  The visit was arranged by Ed Jordan, Director of the Belarusian Orphanage Project (Ireland), which provides support to the Novinki Institution.

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Further dates for Denis McLaughlin

Following his very popular performances in July, the Embassy is delighted to inform you that Denis McLaughlin has added additional dates to his tour of Lithuania during August. He will now be playing at the following venues throughout the month:-

Nida

Monday 15 August     Baras "Faksas", Taikos g. 32a

Tuesday 16 August     Baras "Faksas", Taikos g. 32a

Kaunas

Thursday 18 August     Senamiesčio žiogas,  Rotušės a. 19 

Vilnius

Wednesday 24 August    (12:00) Vilniaus g. 39 (Summer Terrace)

                                           (20:00) Artistai pub, Šv. Kazimiero 3 (with Andrius Kulikauskas)

Friday 26 August          Buk Geras / Be Good Concert (promoting bone marrow donation),  Vilniaus g. 39 (Summer Terrace) (Concert starts at 15:00, Denis plays from 16:00)

Birštonas

Thursday 25 August     Birštonas Cultural Centre, Jaunimo g. 4

Anykščiai

Saturday 27 August     Purpurinis Vakaras, Dainuvos slėnis

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Singer Denis McLaughlin tours Lithuania

The Embassy of Ireland is delighted to inform you of a tour of Lithuania by the Derry-born balladeer, Denis McLaughlin. For a flavour of the tour, you can see a clip of Denis singing the popular ballad "Johnny, I hardly knew you" the last time he was in Vilnius here.

Denis started his musical career playing the bass, and in the two decades since, he has mastered numerous other instruments and musical styles. He has toured Europe and North America with his first group, "Thundering Down" and more recently with "Shamrock". This will be his fourth visit to Lithuania.

He will be playing in Aula Blues Club, off Pilies gatvė, from 20:00 on Thursday 14 July.

His other dates around Lithuania are as follows:-

Friday 15 July          ALYTUS (Baras 3.5 at 20:00) Playing with Laurynas Vaitulevičius, Augustė Bartkevičiūtė and Mykolas Jokubauskas

Saturday 16 July        PANĖVEŽYS (Babilonas Centre at 20:00)   Playing with Andrius Kaniava, Zala and Driukas, Laurynas Vaitulevičius

Sunday 17 July          DRUSKININKAI (Music Club “Druskininkų kolonada” at 20:00) 

Further information about his tour (in Lithuanian) is available here.

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Tánaiste takes part in Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies and holds meeting with Prime Minister of Lithuania, Mr Andrius Kubilius, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Audronius Ažubalis 

An Tánaiste, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, T.D. with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Mr. Audronius Ažubalis

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D., was in Vilnius on Friday 1 July where he attended the Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies. 

The conference brought together Ministers from over 65 participating States to discuss measures to support democratic institutions and values.  A particular focus of the Conference was the Arab Spring and the need to support those emerging democracies and countries in transition in the region. 

While in Vilnius, the Tánaiste also held a series of one-to-one meetings with a number of Foreign Ministers, including his Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Moldovan, and Serbian counterparts.  These meetings took place in the context of the preparations for Ireland’s Chairmanship-in-Office of the OSCE which begins on 1 January 2012.  The Tánaiste also availed of the opportunity to seek support for Ireland’s candidacy for membership of the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2012 to 2015. 

In the afternoon, the Tánaiste met the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Mr Andrius Kubilius.  Lithuania is the current Chairman-in Office of the OSCE and will succeed Ireland as EU Presidency in 2013.  The meeting focused on relations between Ireland and Lithuania and on OSCE matters.  The Tánaiste highlighted those areas which he intends to prioritise when Ireland takes the chair of the OSCE, in particular, freedom of the media, good governance and enhancing the conflict prevention capacity of the OSCE.   

Speaking from Vilnius, the Tánaiste welcomed the opportunity to meet his colleagues and discuss issues of common interest, in particular against the background of Ireland’s forthcoming Chairmanship of the OSCE and EU Presidency.  He added:

“It is critically important in light of the extraordinary events shaping the countries of North Africa and the Middle East, that countries which enjoy the benefits of established democracy should come together to find ways of supporting emerging democracies and countries in political transition”.

Referring to his separate meetings with counterparts, he said:

“I am particularly pleased to have had the opportunity to meet my colleagues here today.  Among the issues discussed was Ireland’s candidature for the Human Rights Council for the 2012 – 2015 term.

I had a very useful discussion with my Lithuanian colleagues.  The ties which already exist between our two countries will be further strengthened over the coming months when we each assume international leadership roles in the OSCE and the EU." 

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Launch of the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Pilot Programme

The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D., the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D., the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, T.D. and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, T.D., today launched the first ever Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme. 

This Programme is an integral part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative and is intended to promote tourism, particularly from emerging markets. It is due to commence on Friday 1 July 2011 and will run up to the end of October 2012, as a pilot, taking in the period of the London Olympics.

Under the Programme, tourists or business people who have lawfully entered the UK, including Northern Ireland, on a valid UK visa will be able to travel on to Ireland without the requirement to obtain an Irish visa. They will be allowed to stay in Ireland for up to 3 months or until their UK visa runs out, whichever is the shorter.  

Nationals of sixteen countries in all are included in the programme. The countries involved are India, Kazakhstan, Peoples Republic of China, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Montenegro, Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

It was also announced, as part of the initiative, that nationals of these countries, who are long-term legal residents in the UK, will have the cost of an Irish visa waived should they wish to visit Ireland. It is estimated that there are up to 1 million people in this category in the UK.

The Taoiseach described the Programme as an "innovative package which is clearly focussed on encouraging more tourists from new and untraditional markets to visit Ireland". He applauded the initiative of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, for bringing the proposal to cabinet. The Taoiseach added that the proposal is noteworthy for coming from a Department "which would not ordinarily be seen as a generator of economic activity". "However, all is changed" he added, "and this Government is determined to do things differently, to operate all the levers and to work closely with industry to make that change happen for the betterment of all our citizens".

The Tánaiste described the initiative "as an excellent example of a joined-up Government response to what is a genuine constraint to the growth of Irish tourism in new and emerging markets such as China, India and the Gulf." He said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Irish embassies abroad will be cooperating closely with the Department of Justice and Equality to help ensure that our visa regime is aligned with the priorities set out in the Government’s integrated strategy for the promotion of overseas trade, tourism and investment. The Tánaiste said that he looked forward to "further developments in relation to the visa regime for entrepreneurs and investors who wished to do business in Ireland in the near future."

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence stated "this initiative has been warmly welcomed by the tourism industry as a measure which represents real practical assistance at a time when it was never more needed. Put at its simplest, it is joined-up Government in action. The Programme is a real and tangible outcome of a process of engagement, facilitated and led by my Department".

Minister Varadkar also welcomed the initiative "The visa waiver has a major role to play in boosting our tourism industry, stimulating job creation and bringing economic recovery. It will allow us to attract new visitors from fast-growing countries like India, China and the Gulf states. These countries are only just becoming aware of Ireland as a tourism destination. The waiver will allow holidaymakers from these nations to travel seamlessly to Ireland from the UK.
 
"The visa waiver is just one of a number of tourism measures in the Jobs Initiative designed to boost tourism jobs. Other measures include the VAT cut on tourism products which starts this week, a three-pronged approach to boost air passengers, and halving employers’ PRSI. I hope this will be the first in a series of measures to ease visa requirements for tourists, business people and students wishing to come to Ireland."

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Visit by An Tánaiste, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, T.D., to the Community of Democracies Ministerial Conference in Vilnius

June 30

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, T.D. will travel to Vilnius to attend the Sixth Ministerial Conference of participating States within the ‘Community of Democracies’ which will take place on Friday, 1 July 2011. The Tánaiste said:-

“In the light of the extraordinary events shaking and shaping the countries of North Africa and the Middle East, it has never been as timely and appropriate to come together to assist emerging democracies and countries in transition."

The Tánaiste will also have separate meetings with the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, Mr. Audronius Ažubalis and the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Mr. Andrius Kubilius. The Tánaiste said:-

“The relationship between Ireland and Lithuania will grow even closer in coming years. We are working together as part of the current Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Troika. Ireland will take over the Chairmanship-in-Office from Lithuania at the beginning of 2012. Ireland will then hold the EU Presidency in the first half of 2013, followed by Lithuania in the second half of the year.  These shared international commitments mean that Ireland and Lithuania will be working closely together over the next couple of years to achieve common goals.  I welcome the opportunity to discuss the busy agenda ahead of us.”

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Embassy news from January to June 2011 can be found here.