The Government has announced funding of £9.1 million for Ireland's participation in Expo 2000, which opens in Hanover, Germany, next June. This is the first international exposition at which there will be an Irish pavilion since a similar event in Seville in 1992.
The theme of the Irish presence at Expo 2000 will be "Experience Ireland", intended to promote the State as a location for inward investment, tourism, food and drink, and employment and career opportunities. A number of State agencies including Enterprise Ireland, Bord Failte, Bord Bia, FAS and IDA Ireland have become involved in the project to promote Ireland's economic and commercial agenda.
Running from June 1st to October 31st, the world exposition has its own theme: "Humankind-Nature-Technology: A New World Arising" and has attracted the participation of 194 countries and international organisations, the largest number yet for such an event.
At yesterday's announcement in Dublin Castle, the Minister of State for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt, said the association with this year's Expo was particularly important because Germany was now Ireland's third most important trading partner, second biggest export market and third largest source of tourists.
Some 60 per cent of the 40 million visitors expected at the fair will be German. Three-quarters of the remainder will come from elsewhere in Europe, with the balance representing the rest of the world.
Ireland's presence will be centred around a pavilion located on the European Boulevard and adjacent to similar structures built by other EU member-states. The Irish pavilion, which can be deconstructed and reused, has been designed by the Dul consortium, a group made up of Murray O'Laoire Architects, architect Orna Hanly, Boyle Design Group, X Communications and Luke Dodd.
According to its designers, the building's concept derives from the traditional stone walls of the Irish landscape and it has a thermal management regime which means neither air conditioning nor mechanical heating are necessary.
Inside, an exhibition trail incorporating work by a number of contemporary artists will lead visitors through a variety of sections examining different aspects of modern Ireland. A wide programme of associated events has been arranged, many of them taking place in the pavilion. Among the more important are:
A display of hurling from June 20th to 25th as part of the third World Festival of Traditional Sports.
Ireland National Day on June 28th when the RTE Concert Orchestra and traditional musician Donal Lunny will perform a new work. The latter was specially composed for the occasion in front of an audience including the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and Mr Kitt.
From July 22nd to 26th a weekend of concerts by singer/ songwriters such as Mary Coughlan.
Young at Art, a new youth dance show performed by representatives of both communities in Belfast from August 25th to 28th.
Concerts by Lord Edward's Own Narraghmore Pipe Band in early October.
There will also be a sequence of visual artists in residence in Hanover throughout the five-month period.