President Congratulates Irish Pavilion on National Day at EXPO 2000

President McAleese was today (Wednesday, 28th June 2000) in Hanover for Ireland’s National Day at EXPO 2000. Accompanied by Minister of State Tom Kitt, the President was received on her arrival at the exposition site by EXPO’s Commissioner General, Brigitte Breuel this morning. In an address at the opening ceremony the President spoke of the challenge to Ireland to secure prosperity for its people while simultaneously honouring our custodianship of Ireland’s unique environmental heritage.

During her visit to EXPO, the President visited the Irish, German and EU Pavilions and was the guest of honour at a lunch hosted by Commissioner General Breuel. She also attended a fashion show organised by Enterprise Ireland at the Irish Pavilion at which Irish knitwear designs were showcased. President McAleese concluded her short stay in Hannover with a visit to the city’s Rathaus (Town Hall) where she was received by the Lord Mayor and signed the Golden Book of Hannover.

Ireland’s National Day at EXPO was celebrated with a packed cultural programme which included the world premiere of a new work by Donal Lunny performed by the composer with the RTE Concert Orchestra, the first showing in Germany of the film "Accelerator" directed by Vinnie Murphy, a concert by Dervish and open air entertainment throughout the day from Bacchanal and Fir Clis theatre groups and Lord Edward’s Own Narraghmore Pipe Band. The National Day kicked off yesterday evening with a dinner for German buyers given by An Bord Bia and a writers evening featuring Eavan Boland, Dermot Healy and Frank Harte.