Although small in number, the various ethnic communities that have immigrated to Ireland provide native Irish and tourists with an opportunity to learn about their culture and their way of life. Their move to Ireland may not always have been easy, but the introduction of various government and community initiatives has given everyone the opportunity to experience ethnic minorities and their cultural celebrations throughout the country.

One such festival is the Mela, a multi-cultural festival organized by Aristka who promote ethnic arts. Held in Northern Ireland as part of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations, this festival showcases Indian and other arts, foods and culture. Aristka is involved in various other celebrations throughout the year, including the Hindu Festival of Lights. These festivals educate the community and invite participation and enjoyment. They also organize art exhibitions, theatrical performances as well as music and dance showcases.

Another festival that is growing in popularity throughout Ireland is Africa Day. In various towns and cities throughout Ireland, Africa Day is celebrated with displays of African food, clothing, art, crafts, music and costumes, providing an opportunity for local communities to share in the African culture that their neighbors grew up with. At the African Bazaar in Limerick 20 African countries were represented, including Mali, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cameroon and DR Congo.

These festivals provide an opportunity for members of the Irish community to meet their neighbors, gain insight into their culture and hopefully understand the many different ethnic minorities a little better. The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism was formed to promote anti-racism, holding national intercultural events, promoting ethnic art and literature and monitoring racism. Events organised by SARI – Sport Against Racism Ireland – promote sport as a way to overcome racism.

Chinese culture in Ireland maintains its traditional festivals and celebrations such as the Chinese Lunar New Year, Lantern and Moon Festivals, held in towns throughout Ireland. The Indian community celebrates their holy days and festivals as well, embracing the local community regardless of their cultural beliefs. Art exhibitions, musical concerts and theatrical performances are used to showcase not only the culture but also the talent of many immigrants to Ireland, providing entertainment and education to the larger community.

A visit to Ireland will certainly be full of Irish history, culture and the beautiful countryside. If you time your trip to coincide with one of the multi-cultural events, you will be able to experience the ethnic diversity of Ireland as well. The more than 65 different ethnic minorities in Ireland and their cultural celebrations bring a new perspective to this beautiful country, affording visitors a taste of Africa, the Caribbean. Europe, Asia and China while visiting Ireland.

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If you’re looking for an African safari with big game and large predators, Ireland is probably not the ideal destination. Ireland’s five national parks do however offer some spectacular and fascinating wildlife, bird and insect life for visitors to enjoy, set in diverse and beautiful countryside.

The biggest naturally occurring mammal you will find in Ireland is the Red Deer. Unique to Ireland, these magnificent animals can be seen in Killarney National Park, Glenveagh, Ballycroy and the Wicklow Mountains parks. Other mammals seen regularly include hare, badgers, the red fox, pine martens, the Irish stoat, mink, otter and fallow deer. Connemara National Park features the Connemara Ponies. Although considered a domestic animal, they wander the countryside in herds in Connemara, making a distinct impression on visitors to the park.

With over 100 bird species native to Ireland, birdwatchers will enjoy the national parks’ offerings. Raptors include owls, peregrine and falcon, with the Golden Eagle having been successfully reintroduced into Glenveagh National Park after it’s disappearance from Ireland in 1912. Golden plover, ravens and many other species can be found throughout the Irish countryside.

Ireland has two magnificent zoos to cater for the visitor looking for animals from further afield. Both are well laid out and feature enclosures that are designed to imitate or replicate the animals’ natural habitat. Dublin Zoo boasts rhino, hippo, lion, Siberian tiger, snow leopard and a variety of primates. Belfast Zoo includes snow tigers, Asian elephants and spectacled bears in its variety of animal species.

Belfast also has the Exploris Aquarium with interactive discovery pools and a deep water open sea tank featuring the interesting creatures of the deep. Many of the sea creatures seen here can be found off Ireland’s coast, where whale and dolphin are spotted at various times of the year. The Seal Sanctuary, also in Belfast, offers a fascinating insight into these clever creatures as well.

Fota Wildlife Park is a 70 acre park on Fota Island in Cork Harbour where visitors can wander amongst free roaming animals for an exciting and educational experience. Fota Wildlife Park specifically features endangered or threatened species, making a trip to this park even more meaningful, as many of the animals they have are no longer found in the wild such as the Rothschild Giraffe and European Bison. Other animals found in the park (not all of them free-roaming) include cheetah, lemur, emu, monkeys, kangaroos, penguin, red panda and many more.

Although the native wildlife may not be as exciting as African big game, the lack of natural large predators gives visitors to the national parks an opportunity to explore the beautiful countryside in safety, even outside their cars. The well-equipped and beautifully laid out zoos more than compensate for the lack of naturally-occurring wildlife, allowing interaction, exploration and education about animals from around the world.

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Ireland’s presidents, both present and past, have traditionally played an active role in the cultural life of the country. Ireland’s political leaders rely on their local political support a lot more than in other countries, making their roles in local society far more important in terms of their election and re-election. This means that the president of Ireland has to be involved in the everyday life of the citizens of Ireland.

President Mary McAleese, the 8th president of Ireland, clearly takes her role in cultural life seriously, supporting local cultural events, festivals and activities throughout Ireland. Her presence at local events, from school recitals to international exhibitions, ensures that her support of the arts and culture of Ireland are visible to all members of the community. Her patronage of local cultural organizations, attendance at events and support of cultural activities actively encourages participation and preservation of Ireland’s rich cultural heritage.

This participation starts from the ground up, including visiting schools and receiving visits from school groups. The president actively engages people in the preservation and continuation of the cultural life of Ireland, ensuring that she motivates continued efforts in this arena with her encouragement and enthusiasm. Whether attending a school recital or the opening of an international exhibition, by her presence, President McAleese is far more than just a figurehead.

On an official level, President McAleese has shown her support for arts and culture with international visits to showcase Ireland’s talent and make inroads into the international market. In 2008 she accompanied Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Film Board on a visit to Hollywood to promote Ireland’s talent in the industry, as well as the country as filmmaking location. The president also attended the European Cultural Foundation National Conference, representing Irish interests and culture. President McAleese presents numerous awards throughout the year, many of them based on cultural activities and achievements, such as Ireland’s Laureate for Children’s Literature.

The formation of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, founded at the end of former President Mary Robinson’s term in office, has helped to improve government’s support of the graphic and visual arts. Protecting and preserving historic and cultural heritage of Ireland remains a vital aim of this department, responsible for organising, sponsoring and supporting various cultural activities and events around the country.

Encouraging the youth is possibly the most important part of the presidents role in cultural life in Ireland. Preserving the language, arts and crafts of Ireland is a primary motivation for the President’s involvement, and important for the cultural heritage of the country. Most cultural traditions are handed down from generation to generation, and must be preserved in order to thrive. Pride in their national heritage can only be strengthened by the active role the Irish president plays in preserving cultural life in Ireland.

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