Long considered the heart of Irish culture in France, the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris continues its artistic showcase of Ireland with exceptional residencies, exhibitions and events.

At the Centre Culturel Irlandais on 23 May 2017, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, will launch the French version of the Ireland.ie website and the extensive five-year Creative Ireland Programme.

The launch is part of a four-day cultural visit for the Minister, which also included addressing delegates at the Irish Film Board’s annual networking event at the Cannes Film Festival and a visit to Brussels to attend the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYSC) Council, where Culture Ministers considered proposals on a revised audio visual media services directive.

Performers at the Paris launch will include Irish jazz double-bassist Barry Donohue, who’s also an artist-in-residence at the Centre Culturel Irlandais; actor Conor Lovett, renowned for his Samuel Beckett performances will read an excerpt from Here All Night; and the only grandson of Oscar Wilde, author Merlin Holland will read from one of Wilde’s many iconic works.

Part of the Collège des Irlandais, which laid cultural connections between France and Ireland as far back as the 16th century, the Centre Culturel Irlandais has been supporting and developing the rich artistic links between the two countries since 2002.