The DCNYFA are pleased to present the Chinese New Year Festival 2008. We are delighted to welcome you to this exciting and dynamic programme of events for Dublin city. It inaugurates the 4706th year of the Chinese calendar, and marks the start of a fresh twelve year cycle commencing with the Rat.
Dublin's Chinese New Year Festival, 1st - 11th February 2008
The Chinese Community has a long tradition in Ireland and especially in Dublin, starting back in the 1950’s when many will remember the first Chinese Restaurants such as the ‘Universal’, ‘Luna’ and ‘Sunflower’. From those small beginnings, a wide and diverse Chinese Community has grown with residents settled here from all parts of China.
We are proud to bring you this colourful festival that includes many cultural features and community activities for Dublin City. We hope that this is the first in what will be a sustainable and vibrant annual festival in the years to come. Watch out for the year of the Ox 2009.
Two of our key stars in this year’s festival are the gorgeous Chinese Red Panda living on our own doorstep in Dublin Zoo, and the acclaimed and award winning film “Still Life” at the IFI.
The year 2008 will be a remarkable year for the Chinese. The 8/8/2008 sees the opening of the 29th Olympiad: the Olympic Games in Beijing. We are sure this will be a fantastic few weeks of sport and we wish all our athletes and our team the very best. We hope to see some teeth biting gold for us in August.
European Year of Intercultural Dialogue
2008 is also the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. We believe that this diverse festival will reach out to all communities and allow them to share their own cultural experiences with those of the Chinese, thereby encouraging and fostering a solid foundation for integration.
This is your festival. This is your city. Welcome to The Dublin Chinese New Year Festival 2008. May the year bring you blessings of great fortune.
From all the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival Committee, Happy New Year!