Join Monkeys, Dragons and Lions as the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival Lights up the City

Join Monkeys, Dragons and Lions as the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival Lights up the City

www.dublinchinesenewyear.com :6^th-21^st February

 

Lord Mayor Críona Ní Dhálaigh today launched one of the most colourful and creative festivals in Dublin’s calendar, the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival, as it gets ready to return on the 6^th February. For two weeks Dublin will transform into a city of carnivals, culture, celebration and Chinese dragons as the Chinese welcome the Year of the Monkey.

 

The ninth year of this vibrant festival will be bigger than ever and will run from the 6^th to the 21^st of February. The Dublin Chinese New Year Festival programme is a showcase of the very best of Chinese culture in Dublin with some performers even flying all the way from China to give Dubliners a real of taste of Chinese traditions. From carnivals to cooking and singing to storytelling the programme will highlight the diverse spectrum of Chinese culture in Dublin over a packed two week schedule. Kicking off the festival on the 6^th &7^th February will be the Spring Festival Carnival Experience in The chq Building, Custom House Quay, expect two days of Chinese traditions and celebrations from fireworks to lantern making and tea tasting to cookery demonstrations all brought to life against a backdrop of Chinese dragons and lions and even a visit from the Chinese Monkey King.

 

Commenting on this year’s festival Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaigh said: “ For its ninth year Dublin City Council will once again host the Chinese New Year Festival. The festival showcases and highlights the very best of the Chinese community in Dublin and how it has helped Dublin become the buzzing and lively cultural city it is today. From food to business the festival offers Dubliners the chance to discover, experience and celebrate the magnificent traditions of Chinese culture in or city. I would like to thank Dublin City Council for their continued support of the festival and look forward to the city enjoying the celebrations together as we enter the Year of the Monkey!”

 

Throughout the festival discover a host of activities at the world-famous Chester Beatty Library including painting workshops with Dutch-Chinese Artist Hoi-Shan Mak and activities for the whole family. Those hoping to learn more about Chinese culture can then dip their toes into the traditions of China with a lecture from the Trinity College Dublin Asian Studies department on historical and contemporary Chinese topics.

 

Many Irish people, when they think of China, think of food. Chinese culinary delights have become a big part of the Western world and Dubliners will have the chance to experience the best of Chinese cuisine from dumplings to wontons. During the Spring Festival Asia Markets, Ireland’s premium Asian supermarket will be on hand to give you a taste of China with cookery demos and food stalls all weekend. For those that want to find the very best in authentic Chinese food in Dublin’s Chinatown, the Le Cool Chinese Experience Walking Tour will lead you through the vibrant Chinese community in Dublin and help discover the impact the community has made on the face of Dublin. Lovers of Chinese food, too intimated by the exotic ingredients or confusing labels should book their place for A Bite of China withAsia Market. On this specially guided tour of the Asia Market guests will learn all about all the ingredients used to prepare and cook an authentic Chinese meal. For a more hands on experience of Chinese cooking Soder+Ko’s chef Kwanghi Chan will be on hand showing how to create a Chinese meal from scratch with cookery demo in Cooks Academy.

 

Other highlights include the Meet the Monkeys Workshop at Dublin Zoo; in association with Brown Thomas, musician Wu Wei Sheng will be in concert with harpist Andreja Malir in The Chapel Royal at Dublin Castle; author of Fashion China, Gemma A. Williams in conversation with Deirdre McQuilllan discussing China’s contemporary fashion scene; in Kildare Village the renowned photographer Matthew Thompson will showcase the breathtaking photography installation “Shan-Zhen”: Re-Examining the Path; London based Chinese pop musician Fifi Rong in the Sugar Club will transport listeners into her universe with her dreamy ethereal sounds; and the Chinese sporting tournament in association with the Emerald Media will see competitions in soccer, basketball and badminton in venues across the city.

A celebration of Chinese culture in Dublin, the festival is an initiative of Dublin City Council in conjunction with the Dublin Chinese New Year Advisory Panel which is made up of a range of representatives from the Dublin and Chinese community in Dublin including the Chinese Society of Ireland (Hong Kong Chinese), Chinese (Fujian) Business Association in Ireland, Chinese Business (Bei Fang – North East China) Association in Ireland, Chinese Students and Scholars Association, Chester Beatty Library, Confucius Institute and Trinity College Dublin (Asian Studies Department). The festival is run with the support of Kildare Village, Arthur Cox Solicitors, Brown Thomas, Asia Market, Extreme Ireland, Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail and Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ireland

Dublin Chinese New Year Festival is the perfect opportunity for Dubliners to explore this fascinating culture and discover more about the Chinese influences on Dublin life. From ribbon dancing to Chinese lanterns there is a whole host of Chinese culture to breathe in this February.

 

The full programme of events for the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival 2016 will be available on www.dublinchinesenewyear.com.

Join the conversation online at www.facebook.com/DCNYF , www.twitter.com/DCNYF

#MONKEY2016 #CHEEKYMONKEY #MONKEYBUSINESS

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For further media information, please contact Caoimhe Butler or Kerryann Conway at Conway Communications; Tel. 01-661 9728/ 085 111 3766