GERMANY'S serious newspapers are full of praise for Ireland these days, impressed by the skill and efficiency of the diplomats handling Dublin's current presidency of the EU. But for most Germans, Ireland remains the "grune Insel", or green island, peopled by red haired, freckled folk with a tendency towards alcoholism and melancholy.

"I have the impression that Irish writers are fed up with this cliched image so it's very important that Ireland should be the focus at Frankfurt this year. It's a great opportunity for Irish writers who are not so well known, because it means that more Irish literature will be read by German critics and will find its way into the fuilletons," according to Thomas Wohlfahrt, director of the Literaturwerkstatt in Berlin.

Mr Wohlfahrt has been an enthusiastic promoter of new Irish writing since he founded the Literaturwerkstatt five years ago. Most German readers know that Joyce and Beckett were Irish, and Flann O'Brien has won a huge following in recent years through performances by his translator, Harry Rohwohlt.

Seamus Heaney's Nobel Prize introduced his work to the German literary scene last year and Roddy Doyle has won both popular and critical acclaim. But Mr Wohlfahrt admits that most Germans remain hazy about the breadth of Irish culture, despite the success of musicians such as U2.

I suppose real fans know chat they're Irish but most people just think of them as part of Anglo American culture and don't differentiate," he said.

Christian Springer, organiser of the Day of Irish Life, points out that, although Irish folk music has been popular in Germany for almost 25 years, many Germans who listen to it have never been to Ireland.

"If they've been there, they tend to know how the country has changed, but a lot of people are amazed that Irish fashion, Irish language and Irish cooking even exist. The problem with cliche's is not that they are wrong but that they don't tell the whole story. We're hoping to change that," he says.