Department of Foreign Affairs

News Update

The Irish documentary film ‘Promise and Unrest’ (2010, 95 min), will be screened at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque at 10:45 on Friday 3 Sept, 2010

The film, produced by the Forum on Migration and Communications (FOMACS ) Dublin and directed by Áine O’Brien and Alan Grossman, will be screened as part of a ‘People on the Move – Migration Cinema in Israel and in Europe’ event, organised by the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund. The film’s inclusion in the programme has been supported by the Embassy of Ireland, Tel Aviv.

‘Promise and Unrest’ will be screened alongside ‘I’m Not a Philippina’ (2010, 51 min), directed by Anat Tel, both films drawing attention to the rights and conditions of the children of migrant workers.

Synopsis - Promise and Unrest is narrated by mother and daughter, Noemi and Gracelle Barredo, and unravels a subtle migration story of maternal sacrifice, loss and love.

Separated from her daughter Gracelle at 7 months, Noemi Barredo left the Philippines for work in Malaysia to support her parents and extended family before arriving in Ireland in 2000. Filmed over a five-year period Promise and Unrest is an intimate portrayal of a migrant woman performing care giving and long-distance motherhood, while assuming the responsibility of sole provider for her family back in the Philippines. Dublin may be a long way from Noemi’s hometown of Babatngon, yet she retains a sharp eye on the welfare of her family, attentive to a range of small businesses she has financed, paying for the education of her daughter and son, medication for her terminally ill father and her sister’s nursing degree. Through the camera lens, home video footage and mother-daughter voice-over narration, the film captures the material and emotional dimensions of global care work, the transnational reach of Noemi and Gracelle’s relationship situated in a wider familial context, together with their reunion in Ireland and the beginnings of a domestic life together in the same country for the first time.

2010. 95 min

PRESS RELEASE 26/07/2010

UNESCO City of Literature – a recognition of Dublin and an opportunity for increased cultural tourism

Dublin becomes the world’s fourth UNESCO City of Literature, part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network which was launched in 2004. This award is a permanent designation and has been led by the city library service of Dublin City Council.

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin T.D., speaking at the announcement by Dublin’s Lord Mayor Gerry Breen at the Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin: “Dublin has been awarded this accolade because of the rich historical literary past of the city, the vibrant contemporary literature, the variety of festivals and attractions available and because it is the birthplace and home of literary greats.

Names such as Swift, O’Casey, Wilde, Shaw, Behan, Beckett and Joyce are synonymous with Dublin and there are reminders of their great literary works throughout the city – which captures both scholars and tourist imaginations when they visit the city.

Dublin’s literary tradition continues to flourish with current writers achieving great acclaim internationally – including Colm Tobín, Sebastian Barry, Anne Enright, Roddy Doyle, John Banville to name just a few. Novelists including Maeve Binchy, Patricia Scanlan, Marian Keyes, John Boyne, Joseph O’Connor, along with contemporary Irish poet Thomas Kinsella and playwright Dermot Bolger are all native Dubliners.

Each year Dublin welcomes Irish people and visitors alike to experience all that is good about our famous city – the history, culture, friendliness of the people and the welcome that we offer. For literary enthusiasts Dublin has so much to offer including the National Library of Ireland, which holds the world’s largest collection of Irish documentary material including books, manuscripts, newspapers, periodicals, drawings, photographs and maps.

Dublin City Public Libraries and Irish Collections hold an extensive range of books relating to Dublin and Ireland which are regularly added to. The Chester Beatty library is both an art museum and library, hosting an amazing collection of Islamic manuscripts, oriental art and some of the earliest texts of the Bible and other early Christian manuscripts. The Dublin Writers Museum has displays relating to Irish literature in all its forms from around the 10^th century to the present day are on permanent show. Exhibits include paintings, manuscripts, letters, rare editions and mementos of many of Ireland’s famous authors.”

Minister Hanafin said that each year libraries around the globe participate in choosing the winner of the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the largest of its kind, which is open to books written in any language. “More recently Dublin has participated in the One City: One Book project which encourages everyone in the city to read the same book in the month of April each year. The annual Dublin Writers Festival presents the best of both Irish and international writing through readings, discussion and insights from the best writers from Ireland and the world, while the Dublin Book Festival celebrates the best of contemporary Irish publishing.

ENDS

UEFA Europa League
Bnei Yehuda v. Shamrock Rovers
Second qualifying round
Thursday 22 July 2010
Venue: Bloomfield Stadium, 5 Hatchiya st., Jaffa, Tel Aviv-Jaffa
Kick-off: 20:30

TICKETS
Bnei Yehuda supporters can buy tickets through
Le’an Ticket Agency, 101 Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv. Tel: 03-5247373 or
online at http://www.leaan.co.il/hall.asp

Notice for travelling fans:
Arrangements have been made to distribute match tickets for Rovers fans on Wednesday at Molly Blooms pub in Tel Aviv (2 Mendele St), directions and map here. Club officials will be there at 4 pm local time with away tickets priced at €10.

Irish Educators’ Group to attend Seminar at Yad Vashem 10 – 18 July 2010

The International School for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem conducts a programme of seminars for European educators in their respective educational fields and encourages the creation of professional networks. Under this programme a group of Irish teachers will be attending a seminar at Yad Vashem from 10 – 18 July. The seminar was arranged by Yad Vashem in coordination with HETI the Holocaust Educational Trust of Ireland.

Regulations for Irish citizens travelling to the US

Regulations for all Irish citizens travelling to the US took effect on 12 January 2009.

Under these regulations, in order to avail of the visa waiver programme, all Irish passport holders must register with the US Department of Homeland Security through the "Electronic System for Travel Authorisation". Registration is free and applications must be submitted at least 72 hours in advance of travelling.

Full details of the regulations are available in the passport section of this website under Irish citizens travelling to USA