 Gabriel Byrne |
Irish actor Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects, Vanity Fair) has accepted the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O’Donoghue’s invitation to chair a new working group of representatives of the Irish/Irish-American business community that will establish a new Irish Cultural Centre in New York.
The working group is to advise the Irish Government on the enhancement of the promotion of Irish culture in New York with their primary focus being the development of the project from an infrastructural perspective. A consultative forum comprising of artists and those engaged in the arts world in New York and Ireland will be established in the coming months to work alongside the group and to feed into the overall process of developing the cultural centre.
Minister O’Donoghue has specifically requested that the group also examine the potential of the proposed facility to contribute to Ireland’s economic prosperity given his expectation that it will become the focal point for Irish culture in New York.
“Ireland and generations of its people have made a significant contribution to American culture not just in the arts but in business and politics. It is only right and fitting that we celebrate this proud tradition and all that is unique about heritage and modern Ireland by developing an Irish cultural centre as a permanent presence in what is the capital of the world,” said Minister O’Donoghue. “Gabriel Byrne has shown unstinting enthusiasm for this project and I am delighted that he has accepted the invitation to chair the working group,” he added.
Meeting the Minister in Dublin, Gabriel Byrne commented; “As an Irish person who has lived in New York for a long number of years I have always felt that there should be a focal point in the city to promote Irish culture and to celebrate the heavy fingerprints and footprints that Irish people have left on American culture. I am excited about the possibilities that this project presents and to accept the task of chairing a working group which will include individuals who will be equally committed and enthusiastic about realising those possibilities”.
