Lord Mayor of Dublin, Eibhlin Byrne will launch the celebrations for the Chinese New Year on Friday 23rd January 2009 at 5pm in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin 2.
Building on the success of previous years, Dublin Chinese New Year Festival in conjunction with Dublin City Council are delighted to present a vibrant and diverse programme of events to celebrate the Chinese New Year and the year of the Ox, a symbol of strength and resilience.
“I am delighted to launch the festivities for Chinese New Year. In particular, I want to acknowledge the positive contribution made to our city over many years by our Chinese community. It is important that we use occasions such as this to recognise that while we are all Dubliners, we come from a rich diversity of cultures. The Chinese New Year Festival activities will offer us all a chance to celebrate and to learn about the wonderful traditions of a very ancient culture”, said the Lord Mayor.
Highlights of the Festival include the Chinese New Year Festival Carnival on 25th January 2009 in Wolfe Tone Park, which will offer a great insight into Chinese culture in the form of interactive workshops, Chinese food and authentic Chinese performances such as Chinese dance and martial arts displays and an Arts and Crafts Workshop, which runs from 26th January to 2nd February 2009, given by three expert Chinese craft artists provided by Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane and Dublin City Council’s Libraries, which will explore the Chinese crafts of kite-making, lantern-making, calligraphy and drawing.
“The Chinese New Year Festival has become an annual event in the City’s calendar. The Chinese people are now a well established community here and the Festival offers everyone an opportunity to experience one of the worlds most vibrant cultures” said Declan Hayden, Dublin City Council, Office for Integration.
The Chinese New Year Day falls this year on Monday 26th January 2009 – “Zhong Guo Nian” (Happy New Year)!
Ends
For Further Information please contact: Declan Hayden, Dublin City Council, Office for Integration, Tel. 086 815 0336 or Dublin City Council Press Office, Tel. 222 2170/086 815 0010.
Notes to the Editor
The Year of the Ox
2009 Year of the Earth Ox
Second in the Twelve Year Cycle, the Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. Born leaders, Ox characters are very dependable, calm and modest. Like their animal namesake, persons born under the sign of the Ox are unswervingly patient, tireless in endeavour and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.
People born under the influence of the Ox are kind, caring, logical and positive. They are full of common sense with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Strong-minded, stubborn and individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals who do not take kindly to being told what to do. Let us hope we see a few good strong Ox figures in the environment we are facing this year!
The Ox gets on best with the Snake, Rooster and Rat but does not work so well with the Tiger or Sheep. The years of the Ox are 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009.
Famous people born in the year of the Ox: Phil Lynott, Barry McGuigan, Barack Obama, Heather Locklear, Jane Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Margaret Thatcher, Meg Ryan, Meryl Streep, Princess Diana, Vivien Leigh and George Clooney.
Schedule of events (15th January – 1st February 2009):
DCNYF – Lunch-time Lecture Series on China
Chester Beatty Library, Dublin 2
DCNYF are delighted to introduce a new public lecture series for the 2009 Festival. Developing the renowned RTE Thomas Davis Lectures series on China, and in association with the Chester Beatty Library, we are delighted to collaborate with Dr Jerusha McCormack (consulting editor to the RTE series) to schedule a set of lunch-time lectures on China in the Chester Beatty Library. Guest speakers and times are:
Friday 23rd January: 1.pm
Lecture 1: Arts of the Book: China In Ireland
Dr Shane McCausland(Chester Beatty Library
Saturday 24th January: 1pm
Lecture 2: Business in China – Piercing the Veil –
Richard Barrett Treasury Holdings
Saturday 24th January: 3pm
Lecture 3: China’s economic Boom
Pauline Byrne (Treasury Holdings),
Sunday 25th January: 1pm
Lecture 4: An Irish Mandarin – Robert Harts Career in China 1854 – 1908
Dr Richard O’Leary (Queen’s University Belfast)
Sunday 25th January: 3pm
Lecture 5: Oscar Wilde’s Chinese Sage
Dr Jerusha McCormack
Friday 30th January: 1pm
Lecture 6: Early Irish Botanical Exhibitions in China: An expansion of the story of Augustine Henry’s plant introductions.
Seventh Earl of Rosse, Brendan Parsons
Friday 30th January: 3pm
Lecture 7: Ruadhan McCormaic
Saturday 31st January: 1pm
Lecture 8: China and Ireland Musical Meetings
Dr. Hwee San Tan, School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London.
Saturday 31st January: 3pm
Lecture 9: Fintan O’ Toole
Sponsored by the Chester Beatty Library and SWATCH. Full details and times for lectures available at www.dublin.ie/cny and www.cbl.ie
26th – 30th January
Sino / Celtic Design and Architectural Exhibitions
RIAI, 8 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
9am – 5pm daily
DCNYF and the Chinese Institute of the Architects in Ireland (CIAI) in association with the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland will host a unique architectural and design exhibition. Exclusive fashion pieces from the internationally renowned designer, John Rocha - including items from his 2009 collection - will be key features in this exhibition. Architecture, interior and urban designs by students and professionals from the CIAI will also be showcased.
Full details available at www.dublin.ie/cny
Sunday 25th January
Dublin Chinese New Year Special Event
The Chinese New Year Festival Carnival
Wolfe Tone Park, Jervis Street, Dublin 1 1pm – 6pm
To welcome in the Chinese New Year of the Ox, DCNYF together with Dublin City Council present a carnival comprising many features including interactive art workshops, Chinese food and craft stalls, information booths, a well-being marquee, and authentic Chinese performances such as lion dances and martial arts displays.
We are especially delighted to welcome, for the first time in Ireland, the Chinese Arts Performance Group from China who will present a one-hour spectacular as part of the carnival celebrations. The Silk and Bamboo Trio will perform a selection of enchanting pieces on silk strings and bamboo flutes. The programme will also include Chinese acrobatics, face-changing episodes from Sichuan Opera, and traditional Chinese ribbon dance. After Party from 6pm at The Church Club beside Wolfe Tone Square.
Full details available at www.dublin.ie/cny
Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park, Dublin
Dublin Zoo will run a week-long programme of activities to celebrate Chinese New Year. Come along and enjoy the fun!
Saturday 24th January 2009
Learning and Discovery Centre
This will feature talks on animals from Asia with a particular focus on pandas; there will also be demonstrations of Chinese crafts.
Open to all visitors and no pre-booking required.
Friday 23rd January – Sunday 1st February
Follow the Asian Trail
Self-guided trail sheets will be available throughout the week to all visitors who pre-book in advance.
Why not take this opportunity to learn more about the different animals in the Zoo?
Meet the Zookeeper
Special keeper talks will take place throughout the week with a particular focus on Chinese red pandas, tigers, elephants and birds. Check website for times.
Meerkat Restaurant will feature a special Chinese menu throughout the week.
Please call or check the Zoo website for times and the latest information. Telephone 01 4748932, email: education@dublinzoo.ie, www.dublinzoo.ie
Arts and Crafts Workshops
Dublin City Council’s twenty-one libraries and Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane will host a number of Chinese-themed workshops during the week. Three expert Chinese craft artists Jeffery Tan, Elaine Yaps and Chen Jing Nin will present these workshops exploring the Chinese crafts of kite-building, lantern-making, calligraphy and drawing. The Dublin City Council Library Bus will also be at the Chester Beatty Library on selected dates.
Artist and author Jeffrey Tan is an authority on traditional Chinese crafts. During Chinese New Year festival he will hold a series of workshops concentrating on Kite Making. Jeffrey’s method is known as ‘open-ended’ learning, where the very basics are taught at first and are used in conjunction with the student’s own abilities, energies and interests, to produce art work that can grow as the student’s knowledge and experience grow. This form of teaching caters for all age groups, from the very young upwards.
Elaine Yap has worked in traditional Chinese Crafts such as kite making, masks and fans. She is a workshop instructor in the Chester Beatty Library and has entertained children in libraries all over the country as well as the Baboró Festival in Galway and the Festival of World Cultures in Dún Laoghaire. During the Chinese New Year Festival, Elaine invites participants to create Chinese masks, capturing the traditions of these ancient ceremonies. Workshops will be held in branch libraries all over Dublin City from Monday 26th January to Monday 2nd February. Check with your local library for details.
Full details, times and booking available at www.dublin.ie/cny
Friday 23rd January: Drawing Workshop with Chinese artists – Chen Jing Nin. Chester Beatty Library 2-4pm – To book call: 4070750 email: educationservices@cbl.ie
Full Sports Tournament
DCNYF are delighted to announce a special ‘Sporting Tournament’ in the spirit of the Beijing Olympics, with four sporting events – badminton, soccer, basketball and table tennis.
This tournament is brought to you by Dublin City Council in association with Sun Emerald Newspaper, Basketball Ireland, Badminton Union of Ireland, Irish Table Tennis Association, Irish Chinese Culture and Sports Association, Chinese Students Scholars Association, Show Racism the Red Card and Sports Against Racism in Ireland.
Full details and registration available at www.dublincity.ie/cny
2009 Dublin City Chinese Community
Celtic Dragon Cup
5 A side Soccer Tournament
The Tournament will be held in St. Catherine’s Sports Centre Marrowbone Lane D8.
The first group Match takes place on Nov 16th continuing then on 23rd, 30th November 7th and 14th December 2008.. The final will take place on Chinese New Years Eve, Sunday 25th January 2009. Registration fee. For registration and further details please call Frank at 01-8733993 or email at frank@0086.ie gerard.carty@dublincity.ie or info@theredcard.ie
Table Tennis Tournament
Following on from the tremendous success of last years event a Table Tennis Tournament will take place on 1st February 2009 At Sports & Recreation Centre, Irish Wheelchair Association, Blackheath Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3. 10am-6pm
Limited to 100 places. For registration and further details please call Frank at 01-8733993 or email at frank@0086.ie gerard.carty@dublincity.ie or info@theredcard.ie
Badminton Tournament
A Badminton Tournament will take place on Saturday 31st January Irish Leinster Branch, Badminton Union of Ireland
At Whitehall Road, Badminton Centre, Terenure Dublin 6. 10am-4pm.Registration €5- Call or Register at 9.30am that day. Limited to 70 places. For registration and further details please call Frank at 01-8733993 or email at frank@0086.ie gerard.carty@dublincity.ie or info@theredcard.ie
Basketball Tournament
A special basketball tournament will take place at Ballyfermot Leisure Centre on Saturday January 18th 11am-6pm.
For further information contact Kim Fitzpatrick at 01-4678211 or email: kfitzpatrick@basketballireland.ie
These events are intercultural and promote Integration and are open to all nationalities and anyone interested in the sports. Refreshments will be provided at all events and a prise giving ceremony will take place during Chinese New Year Festival week.
Concert Series
DCNYF with China Arts in collaboration with Continuum Arts International UK, present The Silk and Bamboo Trio, who will perform a selection of enchanting sounds on silk strings and bamboo flutes. Chinese acrobatics, face-changing from Sichuan Opera and traditional Chinese ribbon dance will also feature.
Sundays at Noon Concert Series – Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
Sunday 25th January at 12 noon Booking and tickets available contact: Gavin O’ Sullivan e-mail: gmusic@indigo.ie
Chester Beatty Library
Thursday 29th January at 7.30pm
Booking and tickets available at info@cbl.ie or telephone 01 4070750
Acknowledgements
DCNYF Committee would like to express sincere thanks and acknowledgement to the following organisations, groups and individuals who have been an enormous help in bringing this Festival to fruition. While we cannot mention all here in name, we include our main sponsors and associates. A full acknowledgement list is on our official website www.dublin.ie/cny
To our main sponsors Treasury Holdings, Bord Bia, Ireland China Association, Chester Beatty Library, Asia Market, Oriental Emporium, SWATCH, Western Union, Dublin Business School, 3G, Dublin Zoo, Chinese Information and Cultural Centre, Sun Emerald and Ireland Chinese News.
A special word of thanks must go to the following individuals and teams for their support and dedication:
His Excellency, Mr LIU, Biwei, Ambassador at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ireland, Limelight Design, Down to Earth Events, Chester Beatty Library, Office of the Minister for Integration, Dublin City Council especially Dublin City Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin City Libraries, the Sports Section, Events Unit, Press Office, Community and Enterprise Section and the Office for Integration.
The information in this brochure is correct at time of printing but is subject to change. Please check the website www.dublin.ie/cny for updates and information.