Wilde, Yeats, Shaw, Joyce, Beckett, even U2, they are all used to persuade foreigners that they do not have to go to Britain to learn English. About 70,000 young people now come annually to the State to learn English in special schools. Most stay with families, a vital part of the learning process. An increasingly important part of the market is the adult foreigner who wants to learn English. About 30,000 such people will come to the Republic this year. The business is now worth about £150 million a year.
A major effort to boost this business takes place today in Malahide. Ms Mary Towers, chairwoman of Marketing English in Ireland - a co-operative established by the main English language schools - says it has invited overseas tour operators to participate in a workshop with English language schools. She calls it "the biggest single promotion of Ireland as a venue for professional language training ever".
Tour operators are coming from every western European country, from Sweden to Greece.
There will also be representatives from Russia, Croatia, Slovenia, Latvia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Far East, Argentina and Mexico.
Ms Towers says the Republic has enormous potential to become one of the leading destinations in the world for quality English-language training, particularly for adults who require proficiency for business purposes. Typically, these people will come from the world of aviation, universities and teacher-training institutions, and government bodies.
The main competitor for this business is, of course, Britain. Irish schools emphasise the State's quality teaching, the natural gregariousness of the people and their willingness to communicate.
Most of the business is based on students staying in homes.
Mr Tom Reidy is chairman of the Recognised English Language Schools Association. He says the State's success in this area of tourism has been built on the quality of the teaching and the traditional family structure which gives people the opportunity to share in Irish family life.
But in some ways, the State is becoming a victim of its success and existing homes are insufficient to cater for anticipated demand, Mr Reidy adds. Ms Towers says the business should keep on growing at its current rate of 7 per cent each year.
One of the problems to be discussed is the cost of getting here. Ms Towers says it is expensive to travel to the Republic from all the markets the language schools are targeting.
There are 42 language schools in the Marketing English in Ireland co-operative. Most are in Dublin but there are also schools in small towns like Tallow, Co Waterford, and Kilfinane, Co Limerick. Some are purpose-built, others are part of a larger enterprise such as Dublin City University. The Department of Education administers an inspection scheme to ensure the quality of English teaching.
After the Malahide workshop, tour operators and their hosts will have dinner in Trinity College, Dublin, one of the best adverts for learning English in the Republic.