Ireland in Paris
Well-known for the high quality of its whiskey, its magical castles and countryside as well as its aggressive rugby team, Ireland has opened a cultural centre in Paris. Situated in the former “Collège des Irlandais”, this multi-faceted centre is a superb eighteenth century building. The Irish have always loved Paris because they can still find traces of their eighteenth century presence. A small community of Irish students moved into the college on the Rue des Irlandais in 1769.
War and revolution sent them fleeing from the site and they did not return until the end of the Second World War. At that time, the Irish presence in Paris was limited to a few cultural activities and a residence. The new centre should be of great help in developing stronger Franco-Irish ties. Its original chapel and wonderful library (10,000 works, half of which are manuscripts and books from the fifteenth through the eighteenth centuries) are, of course, still there and a media library has been added.
Forty-five rooms are available for Irish students as well as two studios for Irish resident artists.The French Prime Minister will officially open the centre on October 18th. For its opening week, the centre will be setting its cultural tone with such events as a Dervish concert (Irish music featuring the singer Cathy Jordan) and a photography exhibition by David Farrell, entitled “Innocent Paysages” (a visual tour to the heart of the Northern Irish conflict). Writing workshops, piano recitals, architectural lectures, projections and more make up the rich activities scheduled to take place at the centre through the end of the year.
The Irish Cultural Centre opens in a superb 18th century building.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Irish Cultural Centre 5, rue des Irlandais, Paris 5th Tel. 01 58 52 10 30 Free entry.
