Long before the horrors of Jenin, the organisers of Féile na Bealtaine, the Dingle-based celebration of the ancient Celtic festival, had decided to take the Middle East, its cultures and politics, as the theme for this year's event.
The May bank holiday has been earmarked for a political symposium which will include the Pakistani ambassador to Ireland, Ms Rifat Iqbal; the Israeli ambassador, Mr Mark Sofer; the head of the general delegation of Palestine to Ireland, Mr Ali Halim, and Prof Dominic Murray, of the department of peace studies at the University of Limerick.
The festival aims, says the director, Dr Michael Fanning, to be "a fiery mix" of arts and politics, fostering new ideas and goodwill.
In the present climate, and with that line-up, he may get his wish. The festival begins on May 1st and runs until the 6th.
The programme includes an Arab/Israeli literature forum, a lecture by Brian Keenan discussing what may be in the minds of suicide bombers before they destroy themselves and others, and concerts including Arab and Israeli music and dance.
Exhibitions will also feature the work of artists who have lived in the Middle East.