26/07/2007

US festival reveals massive interest in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland power-sharing executive’s trip to the US has coincided with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and is likely to bring huge economic benefits to the province.

The US festival showcasing Northern Ireland culture has received record interest when over one million people attended over the ten days at the end of June and start of July and the festival website received a record 33.2 million hits.

Surveys carried out at the Washington DC celebrations showed that 68% of the people who attended would visit Northern Ireland as a result of what they had seen at the festival.

The 41st festival showcased Northern Ireland’s cuisine from bread making in Dungannon to Lough Neagh’s eel fisheries and also music, sports and art.

Four years ago the festival featured Scotland and as a result of the country’s participation, Visit Scotland reported ad additional 44.000 inquiries from the US.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Finance Minister Peter Robinson, Economy Minister Nigel Dodds, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie, Culture Minister Edwin Poots and Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey represented the executive during the festival.

(SB/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

07 August 2019
Local Theatre Talent Set For Edinburgh Festival
Three local theatre groups are due to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe later this month. With the support of the Arts Council and British Council of Northern Ireland, the arts organisations will stage productions that showcase some of the best of local talent at the popular festivals.
20 February 2007
Northern Ireland goes to Washington
Washington DC is to experience Northern Ireland’s arts and culture during a four month programme to promote arts, business, education, food and tourism.

 Around 250 local people will be in Washington taking part in the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme and the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival.
24 August 2010
Queen's Festival On The Way
This year's Ulster Bank Festival at Queen's was launched this week by Stormont Arts Minister Nelson McCausland along with party colleague, the Tourism Minister, Arlene Foster.
25 January 2011
NI Dancers Premiere At Opera House
Around 50 of Northern Ireland's leading champion festival dancers have come together to form a new dance company under the artistic instruction of renowned teacher, choreographer and producer of NI dance, Dominic Graham.
26 April 2007
Maiden City gets Jazzed up for May bank Holiday weekend
The eagerly anticipated 6th Annual City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival has been launched today and will welcome some of the music industry’s most celebrated musicians to the city from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 May.