Review

Washington DC 2007

rediscover northern ireland

www.rediscoverni.com

Lead Sponsors

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reintroduced Northern Ireland to the US very effectively.

The Rediscover Northern Ireland programme was designed to maximise Northern Ireland’s presence at the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival in the summer of 2007, by presenting aspects of Northern Ireland that would enlighten, educate and entertain US citizens. Rediscover Northern Ireland staged over 60 arts events, involving over 40 US partners taking place at venues such as Capitol Hill, Library of Congress, National Geographic and the American University. More than 200,000 people attended Rediscover Northern Ireland arts events from the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia communities.

Over 3,000 key influencers, business people and politicians attended a series of events based around the key themes of business and investment, tourism, food and drink, education and arts and culture.

The Rediscover Northern Ireland programme succeeded in raising US awareness of Northern Ireland as a good place in which to invest, visit, live, work and study. The timing of the event within months of the formation of the new Northern Ireland Executive was ideal.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is a prestigious and widely respected annual event that provides “a professionally curated, outdoor museum exhibit of contemporary, cultural traditions”. As such, it was much more than a tourism

or trade showcase because it provided visitors with an insight into our culture through access to a wide range of local people acting as cultural ambassadors. Quite simply, it showcased ordinary people, with extraordinary talents.

Northern Ireland’s participation in 2007 sent out a powerful and persuasive message about the new spirit and transformation underway here. An unprecedented partnership of politicians from all parties, business and community

leaders, public servants, cultural experts, academics, artists and performers, chefs, journalists, craft workers, poets, researchers and students combined to show the US that Northern Ireland is now moving forward.

They grasped the opportunity that the programme presented, pulling together to make it a success and to show their determination to build a more harmonious and prosperous future for all in Northern Ireland.

Program of events

Rediscover Northern Ireland was a unique initiative that began on St Patrick’s Day 2007 and culminated in the prestigious Smithsonian Annual Folklife Festival – Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian - in Washington DC, from 27 June to 8 July 2007. It met all its objectives and proved to be an outstanding success.

Over one million people, mainly from the US, visited the 10-day Festival.

Surveys and other feedback gathered by the Smithsonian Institution, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and other bodies, indicate that the key objectives underpinning the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme and Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian initiative were either met or exceeded.

Ninety seven per cent of visitors, mostly from the US, described the Festival as excellent and 80% per cent expressed an interest in visiting Northern Ireland.

This immensely important initiative showcased Northern Ireland in a very different and positive light. It helped to sweep away outdated stereotypes and perceptions by highlighting the region’s best qualities to the US public, media and decision makers. It

Introduction112 million audience of Fox News Live, CBS, CNN, Channel 9, Channel 5.

96% of all media coverage in the US was positive

1,006,195 visitors attended the 10-day Smithsonian Festival.

97% of visitors rated their experience of visiting the Festival as excellent, superior or good.

80% of visitors said they might visit or would consider visiting Northern Ireland.

71% of visitors stated that they learned a lot or something about Northern Ireland from the Festival.

40,719,219 hits on the Smithsonian’s Festival related websites including Smithsonian Global Sound which included webcasts from the Festival.

87,929 visitors to the Rediscover Northern Ireland web site with 22.6 million page views.

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BackgroundNorthern Ireland was invited by the Smithsonian Institution to participate in the 41st Smithsonian Annual Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington DC. The Festival is held annually between the last week in June and the first week in July incorporating 4th July celebrations and is the largest cultural event in the US capital.

As participation at the festival is a once in a lifetime opportunity, there was a widespread view that Northern Ireland should build on it to create a buzz in the US and highlight our region’s best features.

The programme was conceived and delivered through the work of the members of the Leadership and Coordinating Groups drawn from government departments, public agencies and the corporate sector both in Northern Ireland and the US. The Leadership Group of public and private sector representatives succeeded in its objective of leveraging significant support from the private sector. A total of £580,570 cash and in-kind support was donated by corporate sponsors in Northern Ireland.

Three steering groups were formed to plan and deliver the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme.

The Leadership Group was co-chaired by the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Sir Nigel Hamilton, and the Chair of Ulster Bank, Dr Alan Gillespie. Members included business leaders and DCAL officials with responsibility for the different strands of the programmes. Additionally, there was a group of VIP supporters comprised of Senator George Mitchell, Sir James Galway, Barry Douglas, Kenneth Branagh, Brian Friel, Brian Kennedy and Geraldine Hughes, who lent their support to brochures, websites, letterheads and attendance by some at events.

Management and accountability were provided by the Coordinating Group drawn from senior government officials and representatives from the key public bodies involved.

In keeping with the nature of the event, a Curatorial Group was set up and provided expert guidance on cultural issues. The group contributed substantially to discussions with the Smithsonian’s Curator.

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The steering groups agreed the following strategic message would underpin Northern Ireland’s activity in the US: To present Northern Ireland as a creative, confident, outward looking region and to develop further strong relationships with the United States that would be mutually beneficial.

A Rediscover Northern Ireland brand, logo and website were created with the strap line See, Feel, Discover for use by all participants and on all marketing and promotional materials and activities.

The Rediscover Northern Ireland web portal, which was accessed by 88,000

people, mostly from overseas, generated 22.6 million page views. It provided essential cultural, business, tourism and other information about Northern Ireland and the programme of events from St Patrick’s Day to the end of August 2007. The website also acted as a signpost to the sites of other organisations and bodies involved in the Rediscover Northern Ireland initiative.

A further 40,719 219 people viewed the Smithsonian’s Festival website, which included information about Northern Ireland. These were the highest website figures in the Festival’s history.

A Strategic Approach

An administrative team was established including officials from DCAL and executives seconded from the Arts Council Northern Ireland, Business in the Community and CraftNI to facilitate and deliver the core programme. Each of the stakeholder bodies: Arts Council, Department of Agriculture, Invest NI, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Queen’s University, Belfast, University of Ulster, NI Bureau delivered their own events and programmes.

Delivering the campaign

Harnessing the US media to highlight Northern Ireland’s transformation was a vitally important objective of Rediscover Northern Ireland. The Festival was an ideal platform that could be used to reach the vast audience beyond the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia regions.

Research indicates that over 110 million people in the US watched television coverage of Rediscover Northern Ireland on broadcasters such as CNN, CBS, and Fox News Live. It was also mentioned in 127 articles in newspapers and magazines.

Keeping people in Northern Ireland briefed about the initiative was just as important. Rediscover Northern Ireland featured 259 times in the local press and received television coverage totalling 37 minutes and 45 seconds on BBC and UTV news.

Reaching a wider audience

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More than 145 participants from Northern Ireland exhibited, performed and talked about issues such as heritage and the environment, traditional crafts, food and drink, industrial and agricultural heritage, sports and traditional performing arts.

Two powerful moments that highlighted Northern Ireland’s transformation and the growing confidence were provided by deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness MP MLA and then Finance Minister, The Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP MLA, who represented the First Minister, both speaking at the launch of the Festival on the National Mall.

Mr McGuinness said: “I have visited this city many times but today is different. Today I am here not just as a representative of one part of the community. Today I am proud, honoured and humbled to speak to you as the joint leader of an administration which represents our entire society.

“A society not just in transition but in transformation; a society moving from division to one united in our celebration of diversity.

“When you meet our performers and participants you will see at first hand the vibrancy, diversity and creativity of our cultural life and its influence here in

the United States and I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.”

Mr Robinson said: “When you visit us - as I hope you will - you will be in no doubt about the astounding progress that is being made. Our two traditions are serving together in a new government. It is a government that is about change, about building, about progress, about promoting a confident and capable Northern Ireland and I believe there is no limit to what we can achieve together.

“Over the next two weeks our common heritage can be explored and experienced here. You will see innovation is central to our development and will be the springboard for our future prosperity.

“As we look to the future with hope, expectation and realism, we need only reflect on our common heritage to realise the potential for future relationships between our two countries.”

Demonstrating Northern Ireland’s culture on the National Mall were musicians, dancers, sports coaches, mural artists, cooks, biomass technicians, historians, musical instrument makers, industrial workers to name but a few. The presentation included a network of stages and a sports field laid out for soccer, rugby and Gaelic.

CONgReSSmeN RIChIe Neal aND JIm WalSh PICtUReD WIthDePUty FIRSt mINISteR maRtIN mCgUINNeSS aND FINaNCe mINISteR, PeteR RObINSON

Craftspeople and musicians attending the festival had an opportunity to supply items for sale in the Smithsonian’s Festival Marketplace beside the National Mall. A wide variety of goods from Northern Ireland were on offer which gave visitors a more complete Festival experience. Included for sale were jewellery, ceramics, books, linen, music CDs, candles/soap, Bog Oak, willow, giftware, sports wares, paper goods, consumables and glass. Sales worth $81,000 were recorded for the participants.

Doing business in the festival marketplaceNorthern Ireland at the SmithsonianKey themes

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the longstanding creativity and developing confidence in Northern Ireland were demonstrated by 66 arts and cultural events held at venues such as the library of Congress and the National geographic. this aspect of the Festival was funded by grants of £512,000 from DCal and the arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Taking part were 147 artists and administrators who formed relationships with arts organisations, such as Americans for the Arts, and other cultural businesses in the Washington area.

These links have also led to discussions on joint US-Northern Ireland initiative such as a new poetry anthology with the National Endowment for the Arts; a theatrical project for Buffalo, the New York state capital; and resulted in a further cultural exchange when 11 American partnerships were engaged in a week of cultural events in Northern Ireland in March.

The exchanges have already resulted in a visit by US partners to Northern Ireland in March 2008.

Another important initiative that helped to raise awareness of the quality of Northern Ireland’s traditional music was the production of a CD by the Smithsonian’s in-house Folkways recording label. Folkways is dedicated to the recording and preservation of folk, traditional or indigenous music styles. The

theme of the Folkways recording was a sense of place.

Funding of $29,700 was provided towards the production costs of the CD to be used as a promotional tool to raise the profile of musicians from Northern Ireland on the international stage. Initial sales of the CD, which can also be downloaded for MP3 players, were $ 22, 807.95 between July 2007 – March 2008.

• 39 artists from Washington were also involved in the Northern Ireland programme

• 27 Northern Ireland arts organisations partnered with

• 21 bodies/venues in Washington

• $175,000 in-kind support from Washington partners in support of the programme

• 200,000 audience from Washington DC and maryland & Virginia communities

• Some 210,536 people from the Washington DC, maryland and Virginia region visited the arts events including the ‘made in Northern Ireland craft exhibition

• In addition, support-in-kind worth around $175,000 was donated by venues and partners in Washington DC

arts & Culture

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Over 170 key people from food, tourism and politics also attended a special reception hosted by the UK Ambassador, Sir David Manning to celebrate Northern Ireland’s food and drink. The guests included executives from Northern Ireland food companies.

A hugely successful aspect of the Northern Ireland presentation was the food concession for visitors on the

National Mall, which provided opportunities to promote and sample local food and drink and cooking styles. Flanagan’s Harp and Fiddle, a restaurant from Bethesda, Maryland was selected by the Smithsonian to produce the Northern Ireland menu.

To ensure that Northern Irish accents were heard at the service counters, the hospitality and catering department of Southern Regional College, Newry, sponsored by DCAL, took eight catering students and a hospitality lecturer to Washington to assist Flanagan’s in preparing and particularly serving the meals. Some of the students supported the Northern Ireland chefs at the food

demonstration stage. Of the four food concessions at the Festival – Thai, Vietnamese, Virginia and, Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland concession recorded the second highest sales after the Thai outlet. Sales at the Northern Ireland food concession, in fact, were among the top ten sales figures in the Festival’s history.

The most popular and a unique feature of Northern Ireland’s food concession was a stage for session musicians designed like an Irish pub that included day long traditional music sessions which Washingtonians were invited to join at weekends. This was the first time that the Smithsonian had attempted anything of this kind and it was a resounding success. This extra draw for visitors contributed towards generating food and beverage sales of $221,349.

Receptions, gala gourmet master-classes, demonstrations and samplings showcasing the quality and variety of Northern Ireland’s food produce were held both before and during the Festival. The programme, supported by £30,000 from Northern Ireland departments, private sector sponsorship and in-kind contributions, included presentations by a group of Northern Ireland’s best chefs and featured a unique Masterclass Gala Dinner at Restaurant Eve in Alexandria Va hosted by Michelle Gildernew, Agriculture Minister. It provided an opportunity to connect with key influencers from the food industry, travel trade, politicians and the media.

Food and drink

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One of the most important meetings outside the Festival was with the US Special Envoy, Paula Dobrianski and seven Chief Executive Officers and business representatives from the United States. As a result of this meeting, Paula Dobrianski agreed three key deliverables to assist the Northern Ireland Executive:

A mini trade mission was held around the two Department of Agriculture and Rural Development food events and £500,000 sales are predicted in the US over the next 2 years by one participating food company. Three other Northern Ireland companies have returned to the US to further develop their contacts with the US market.

Invest Northern Ireland provided £140,000 for a series of focused business events designed to promote trade and investment between Northern Ireland and the US. The US is one of Northern Ireland’s most important export markets and the leading source of inward investment projects.

These included three trade missions to the US. A 15-strong group of technology companies attended the FOSE exhibition in Washington DC to explore business with US federal and state authorities. The second was a

food sector mission that coincided with the Gala Master-Class Dinner and the reception hosted by the UK Ambassador.

Economy Minister Nigel Dodds also led a mission of 10 companies to Fairfax County organised to promote innovation, skills and investment opportunities in Northern Ireland. Companies on this mission expect to achieve sales of more than £5,000,000.

Linked to the US launch of the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme, the former Northern Ireland Office Minister Maria Eagle MP hosted an investment lunch for existing and potential investors at the end of St Patrick’s week. She also hosted an Invest NI business reception in the Library of Congress on 23 March 2007 which was attended by almost 200 existing and potential US investors, influencers and media.

Trade and business

Queen’s University, BelfastQueen’s University Belfast (QUB) held a poetry symposium at the National Geographic Society. The event, hosted by Dana Gioia, Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, showcased the work of poets: Paul Muldoon, Ciaran Carson and Michael Longley. Seamus Heaney appeared on film. The audience was composed of invited guests and members of the public. President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Gregson, Queen’s hosted a reception at the event attended by 400 people from Queen’s alumni, US arts & business community, the media, & academics.

Queen’s has established and increased communication between QUB and other senior academics in Washington DC. Queen’s hosted the Mitchell Conference 22-23 May 2008, attended by the President of Georgetown University and 15 academics.

University of UlsterActivities included a reception organised by the University of Ulster at the Katzen Center, American University, that was attended by 80 key influencers including alumni, honorary graduates, academic and other existing and potential partners in higher education, the arts, business and public life. The event featured work from more than 20 Northern Ireland artists. There was a strong emphasis on the wealth of talent emerging from the University’s School of Art and Design.

Another reception was held by the University of Ulster at the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington DC for 140 guests including alumni, some of whom travelled from Florida, Texas and New York.

These receptions have enabled the University of Ulster to strengthen its relationships in the US and make further worthwhile contacts. The opportunity to invite alumni allowed the University to re-establish contact with 800 alumni across the US.

A total of seven Ministers attended Rediscover Northern Ireland events and the Festival. This was the first opportunity for the newly devolved Executive to demonstrate to US political and business leaders that the new Executive was a sustainable administration, focused on addressing socio and economic priorities.

Whilst in the US the Ministers held a number of meetings with political, business and policy representatives in Washington, New York and elsewhere.

Promoting Northern Ireland as a modern and progressive region with a world class education system and as a global leader in research and development activities underpinned the programmes led by Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster.

higher education

• Connections for the Investment Conference in Spring 2008

• Three US-led missions in support of planned Investment Conference

• US administration participation in the Investment Conference

Over 150 influential business leaders, influencers and potential investors, representing 90 major corporations travelled to the Investment Conference and had an opportunity to see at first hand what Northern Ireland has to offer.

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An extensive promotional programme was organised by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) and Tourism Ireland (TIL) as their contribution to the Rediscover Northern Ireland initiative. NITB was also a partner in the food programme and supported the gala dinner and Ambassador’s reception, while Tourism Ireland was a major sponsor of the Titanic Exhibition and travel Industry lunch.

As well as carrying out several promotions during the Festival, including the distribution of 100,000 NITB branded fans highlighting tourism websites, 7,000 visitor guides and 18,000 DVDs, NITB and Tourism Ireland organised five events as part of the Smithsonian Associates lecture programme. These included An Evening with Phil Coulter and lectures on The Northern Ireland

Landscape and The Big House Tradition. Over 700 people attended the lectures. The joint NITB/Tourism Ireland presentation at the Festival recorded 60,000 visitors.

NITB’s contribution was particularly significant in terms of newspaper, magazine and television promotion. NITB conducted an intensive media briefing tour in New York and Washington with leading travel and lifestyle editors. These promotional activities led 14 journalists and one television crew to visit Northern Ireland immediately, with many more contacts being followed up with the media.

Northern Ireland featured strongly in the Smithsonian Institution’s Associates magazine, which has a circulation of 85,000, and six US travel writers attended Associates programme events.

Tourism

Titanic ‘Built in Belfast’ Exhibition at Union Station

Over one million dollars (£500,000) of positive coverage for Northern Ireland was obtained through Tourism Ireland’s and NITB’s PR programmes in the run up to the festival and in the months directly following the event.

Preliminary forecasts for 2007 show an increase of 12% for visitors from North America. A ‘Titanic - Built in Belfast’ exhibition was

held at Union Station, Washington DC during the Festival.

• Drawn heavily from the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum’s archive material relating to Titanic and shipbuilding in Belfast, the event involved a unique public / private partnership led by National Museums Northern Ireland which included Titanic Quarter, Tourism Ireland, Belfast City Council and the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure.

• The location in Union Station DC was a perfect setting for the Titanic exhibition and its opening launch (led by Ministers Poots and Dodds) for attracting and generating media interest. The major exhibit included a dramatic reconstruction based on the hull section of the Titanic with National Museum’s costumed interpreters bringing the exhibition to life.

1.6 million visitors estimated to have visited the exhibition during the period 26 June – 15 July, 97 per cent of whom said they would consider Northern Ireland as a holiday/business location.

• The exhibition informed and educated visitors across four key themes:

• A celebration of a city with an impressive industrial past (shipbuilding, aircraft, engineering, design, innovation);

• A demonstration of a place which values its history and cultural heritage (National Museums, arts venues, schools, universities, churches and Christian sites);

• A fantastic destination for international visitors (Titanic, City Hall, Giants Causeway, St Patrick, emigration);

• A massive economic opportunity on a world scale (Titanic Quarter, city centre, retail, inward investment).

• National Museums Northern Ireland held a Business Networking Event in Union Station in conjunction with the DC Chamber of Commerce. The event was supported by Belfast City Council and the Port of Belfast and guests included Chief Executives of major companies, banks and international businesses and other potential inward investors. A “Presidents Liaison” between the National Association of Realtors and Northern Ireland was announced after the event.

National Museums also hosted, in conjunction with Tourism Ireland, a lunch for 160 of the most influential tourism professionals from across the States. The event was hosted by Joe Byrne of Tourism Ireland and addressed by Minister Dodds, Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers and Tim Cooke, Chief Executive of National Museums Northern Ireland.16

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Funding Rediscover Northern Ireland and participation in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an excellent example of a successful partnership between the public, private and voluntary sectors. Public and private sector financial and in-kind support totalling £2.61 million was secured. This included £ 426,000 Corporate sponsorship, £104,000 from each government department, £192,000 from the Arts Council, and £ 424,000 from the Smithsonian Institution. £87,500 of in-kind support was received from the US.

A budget was developed by DCAL for the period 2005-08 to cover public sector

support needed to launch participation, underwrite the costs of both programmes and mitigate two key risks – possibility that sufficient sponsorship might not materialise and fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Initial contacts with the corporate sector indicated there was excellent potential for the involvement of business and by November 2006 a concerted sponsorship drive had begun.

Corporate sponsorship exceeded the original target. In addition, many companies and organisations provided in-kind support such as services, staff and advice.

Sponsorship enabled Northern Ireland to enhance its programmes in terms of numbers of participants taking part; the ability to show more facets of local life and better exhibits. Washington partners also provided in kind support such as providing arts venues either at reduced rates or free: inclusion of Rediscover Northern Ireland events in their publicity and marketing; ticketing and booking arrangements; security and ushering. This has not been quantified but it is important that their generous contribution to our programmes is acknowledged.

Budget 2005/06 – 2007/08

Year 05-06 06-07 07-08 Total

Budget £100,000 £498,000 £970,000 £1,568,000

Smithsonian Folklife Festival £1.046 million (£622,000 from DCAL’s budget and £424,000 from the Smithsonian Institution)

The Rediscover NI Arts and Culture Programme £512,000 (£320,000 DCAL funding from its existing international showcasing fund and an additional contribution of £192,000 from the Arts Council)

Corporate Sponsorship £426,000 (Target of £250,000). Value of in-kind support £155,760.

Marketing and Publicity£237,000 including costs of a Washington PR company. News and media stories in the US reached television audiences of 112 million alone. Print media through newspapers such as the Washington Post would have extended the audience reach further.

Harnessing the US media to highlight Northern Ireland’s transformation was a vitally important objective of Rediscover Northern Ireland. The Festival was an ideal platform that could be used to reach the vast audience beyond the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia regions.

Research indicates that over 110 million people in the US watched television coverage of Rediscover Northern Ireland on broadcasters such as CNN, CBS, and Fox News Live. It was also mentioned in 127 articles in newspapers and magazines.

Keeping people in Northern Ireland briefed about the initiative was just as important. Rediscover Northern Ireland featured 259 times in the local press and received television coverage totalling 37 minutes and 45 seconds on BBC and UTV.

FundingReaching a wider audience

Total Costs

Titanic Exhibit at Union Station £402,000 (Corporate sponsorship, DCAL funds, Tourism Ireland and Belfast City Council)

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The clear message from all the participants is that the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme and Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian was a successful public and corporate diplomacy initiative that delivered value for money especially in terms of acquired media coverage. It succeeded in a very short space of time of turning round many of the outdated perceptions held about our region.

It succeeded in presenting Northern Ireland as a creative, increasingly confident and outward looking region. It has created an environment in the US in which Northern Ireland is received more positively across many different layers of business and cultural life and in which US organisations and businesses are much more receptive and confident about forming partnerships with us. Already numerous organisations

large and small are building emerging relationships from this platform.

Finally, it demonstrated the role that culture can play as the key to opening doors for the delivery of other business messages related to the economy, tourism and education and that cultural diplomacy is an important part of any international initiative promoting Northern Ireland.

Outstanding success

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Dr Aideen McGinley, DEL, ChairAlice O’Rawe, Arts & Business Anna Carragher, BBCAnthony Cranney, NITBAubrey Irwin, Tourism IrelandBrian Lambkin, Centre for Migration StudiesCathie McKimm, Down District CouncilCathy Hurst, US ConsulateColette Norwood, British CouncilColm McGivern , British CouncilColin Jack, DCALDeclan McGovern, BBCFiona Lavery, Invest NIGeorge Patton, Ulster Scots Agency

Hazel Campbell, DCALHeather Carr, Arts & BusinessHelen Gormley, Rural Community NetworkJane Campbell, NI Events CompanyJoe Kelly, Craft NIJohn Gilmour, MAGNIJohn Gray, Linenhall LibraryJohn Speers, DARDJohn Walsh, BCVBLinda Houston, LibrariesLorraine Craig, EHSMairtin MacCathmaoil, Foras Na GaeilgeManus Deery, EHSMichael Coulter, EHS

Mick Cory, DCAL, Deputy Chair Nancy Groce, SmithsonianNick Harkness, Sports Council NIOlga Gallagher, Rural Dev CouncilPat Wilson, DCALPaul Flynn, Arts CouncilPeadar O’Cuinneagain, Foras Na GaeilgePhilip Hammond, DCALShan Mc Anena, QUBTeresa Canavan, RDCUllrich Kockel, University of UlsterValerie Adams, PRONIVanessa Wilson, Ulster Scots AgencyYvonne Murphy, Linenhall Library,

Artists in Health at Lombardi Cancer Center

Kate NewmanElaine AgnewAndrea SpencerLorna Hastings

Drama in Education/Production at Catholic university

Tom MaguireDes Kennedy

Press PhotographyAlan LewisJohn Harrison

Barry Douglas and Camerata Ireland at the Library of Congress

Popular/Contemporary Music in DC

Ross GrahamJohn EdmondIain ArcherFoy VanceSnow Patrol Duke Special OppenheimerClaire Sproule

Children’s Theatre at Imagination Stage

Cahoots NI

Artist in Education at School for Arts in Learning

David Campbell

Printmakers in DCPaula GallagherRobert PetersElaine MegaheyJill McKeown

Artists in the Community at Anacostia

Mervyn SmythColette BryceKirsten KearneyTracey Gallogly

The Brian Irvine Ensemble in DC

Poetry in DCCiaran CarsonLeontia FlynnNick LairdMichael Longley Edna LongleyShan McAnenaSinead MorriseyPaul Muldoon

Composers in DCChris McClellandDave MorrisDeirdre GribbinFrank LyonsStephen DeazleyBrian Irvine

Visual Arts at the Katzen Center

Noreen TaggartPeter RichardsIan CharlesworthPaul Seawright

Opera Theatre CompanyEimer MurphyRosa SolinasAndrew ClancyBrendan CollinsOrla McKeagneyDavid Knotts

Peace Café productionMarie JonesMarty Maguire

Traditional Music at the Library of Congress

John MouldenRosie StewartFrancis McPeake IIIFrancis McPeake IVMairead FordeSean O’KaneRobert WattBrian Mullen Gary Hastings

Arts Critics ExchangeSioned HughesLinda ChristmasMatt McCrearyLinda McKeeDavid Lewis

Musicians at the Phillips Collection

Jonathan ByersRichard SweeneyDaragh MorganMary DulleaMichael McHaleDavid Quigley

Place Names Symposium at the Library of Congress

Kay Muhr

Literature in DCLucy CaldwellGlenn PattersonOwen McCafferty

HarpistCliona DorisFilm in DCCian SmythMoyra LockeJohn Joe O’NeillJohn T DavisPearse ElliottTerry Loane

Craft in DCJoe Kelly, CraftNIAndrew Livingstone, CeramicistCara Murphy, Silversmith Michael McCrory, SilversmithCéline Traynor, Jeweller Hazel Bruce, Textile ArtistJanet Ledsham, Textile ArtistKarl Harron, Glass ArtistMichael Moore, CeramicistPeter Meanley, Ceramicist

Curatorial Group

Rediscover Northern Ireland Arts and Culture ProgrammeArtists and Performers

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure are particularly grateful to the following people:The Smithsonian Institution: Dr Richard Kurin Dr Diana Parker, Festival Director Dr Nancy Groce, Senior Curator NI

Programme Jason Morris, Assistant CuratorLeadership Group: Sir Nigel Hamilton, KCB, Co-chair Dr Alan Gillespie, CBE, Co-chair Austin Baird Terry Brannigan Ruth Laird Michael Gould Mick Cory, NI Programme Director Dr Philip Hammond, Creative Director Pat Wilson, NI Folklife Festival Project

Manager Ryan Williams, Business Links ManagerCo-ordinating Group: Edgar Jardine, Chair Mick Cory, Deputy Chair

Pat Wilson, DCAL Dr Philip Hammond, DCAL/ACNI Ryan Williams, DCAL Jill Heron, DCAL Marian Kelly, DCAL Noreen Taggart, UU Shan McAnena, QUB Sue Ward, NITB Roisin McDonough, ACNI Tim Losty, NIB Stephen Grimason, EIS Colm Shannon, EIS John Speers, DARD Pat Murphy, Invest NI Gillian McLean, NMNI Siobhan Logue, DEL Norman Houston, DETI Aubrey Irwin, TILSmithsonian Unit, DCAL Mick Cory, NI Programme Director Dr Philip Hammond, Creative Director

Pat Wilson, NI Folklife Festival Project Manager

Ryan Williams, Business Links Manager Joanne Eland, Press / Communications

Manager Marian Kelly, Logistics Manager Rosemary Petrie, Finance Manager Julie Steen, Events Manager Kerry Savage, Office Manager Janice Stevenson, Marketplace Co-

ordinator Orla McCarthy, Participants Co-

ordinator Kevin Loy, Freight Co-ordinatorTitanic Exhibition Anne McMullan, NMNI Aubrey Irwin, TILUS Media and Public Relations Susan Davis International

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Philip Holland, Ulster Carpets, Portadown, Co. Armagh

George Holmes, Donaghadee, Co. Down, Ulster-Scots culture/Traditional musician/Presenter

Robbie Hughes, Strangford, Co. Down, Bagpipe maker

David Hume, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Historian, Grand Orange Lodge

Declan Hurl, Environment and Built Heritage, Belfast, Co. Antrim Conservation specialist

Bob Johnston, Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, Bangor, Co. Down, Irish Basket maker

Mary Keenan, Co. Down, Catering InternTom Kelly, Bogside Artists, Derry City, Co.

Londonderry, MuralistWill Kelly, Bogside Artists, Derry City, Co.

Londonderry, MuralistJohn Kennedy, Cullybacky, Ballymena,

Co. Antrim, Traditional singer and musician

Conor Lamb, Craobh Rua, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Traditional musician

Bernice Larkin, Co. Down, Catering InternLee Lawson, Waringstown, Co. Down,

Snare DrummerJim Ledwith, Aughakillymaude

Community Mummers, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Group Coordinator/Mummer

Louise Lilburn, Dromore, Co. Down, Farmer and Cattle Breeder

Gino Lupari, Four Men and a Dog, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry, Traditional Musician

Jack Lynch, Co. Armagh, Storyteller Padraig Mac Cionnaith, All Set Ensemble,

Colomiers, Traditional Musician

William Magowan, Brush Creations, Garvagh, Co. Londonderry, Banner painter

Eamon Maguire, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Bodhran maker/Bog oak sculptor

Jonathan Mattison, Historian, Grand Orange Lodge

Rev. Robert James Mattison, Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh, Ulster-Scots cooking and culture

Tanya McAleenan, Newry, Co. Down, Hospitality Lecturer

Gabriel McArdle, Hidden Fermanagh, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Traditional singer/musician

Michael McBarron, Aughakillymaude Community Mummers, Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh, Captain Mummer

Adrian McBrien, Aughakillymaude Community Mummers, Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh, Mummer

Donard McClean, Aughakillymaude Community Mummers, Bangor, Co. Down, Mummer

Rosemary McConkey, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, Marine archeologist

Cathal McConnell, Hidden Fermanagh, Co. Fermanagh/Edinburgh, Traditional singer and musician

Mary McCormack, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Farmer

Alasdair McCracken, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Newforge Lane, Belfast, Sustainable Developmentand & Renewable Technologies

Philip McDermott, Waterside, Co. Derry, Genealogy

Joe McDonald, Ulster Farmers Union, Belfast, Co. Antrim

James McIlhernon, Cuckoo’s Nest, Cushendun, Co. Antrim, Traditional Musician

Ivan McFerran, The Low Country Boys, Glastry, Ballyhalbert, Co. Down, Traditional musician

Stephen McGeehan, Comhairle Uladh Cumann Lúthchleas Gael/GAA, Armagh, Co. Armagh, Gaelic sports

Mark McGuigan, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Sustainable Agriculture

Jim McGrath, Hidden Fermanagh, Monea, Co. Fermanagh, Traditional musician

Christine McIvor, Centre Migration Studies/Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Genealogist

Una McKay, Comhairle Uladh Cumann Lúthchleas Gael/GAA, Armagh, Co. Armagh, Gaelic sports

Richard McKee, Co. Down, Catering Intern

William McKeown, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, Whiskey Maker

Pat McManus, Hidden Fermanagh, Teemore, Co. Fermanagh, Traditional musician

Shirley Elizabeth McMullan, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, Whiskey Maker

Niall McShea, Markethill, Springfield, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Motor sports

David McVeigh, Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Company historian

David McVeigh Irish Football Association, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Soccer Coach

Terence McWilliams, Comhairle Uladh Cumann Lúthchleas Gael/GAA, Armagh, Co. Armagh, Gaelic sports

Liz Moore, Belle Isle School of Cookery, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh, Chef and cooking instructor

Valerie Adams, Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, Belfast, Genealogist

Brendan Bailey, The Armagh Rhymers, Portadown, Co. Armagh, Mummer

Linda Ballard, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Holywood, Co. Down, Presenter

Mabel Bogie, Saintfield, County Down, Lacemaker and decorative needlework

Sheila Boylan, All Set Ensemble, Belfast, Co. Down, Traditional musician

Sinead Boyle, Co. Down, Catering InternMichael Black, Derry, Co. Londonderry,

Rugby coachMaurice Bradley, Draperstown, Co.

Londonderry, Traditional musicianColin Breen, University of Ulster,

Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, Marine archeologist

Norah Brown, Grange Lodge, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Cook and Guesthouse Owner

Hugh Browne, Newry Institute, Warrenpoint, Co. Down, Chef, fisherman, Mournes expert

Ian Carmichael, All Set Ensemble, Portadown, Co. Armagh, Dancer/dance instructor

Michael Cassidy, Craobh Rua, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Traditional musician

Fergus Cleary, Co. Fermanagh, Head of Design, Belleek Potteries, Designer

Brian Connolly, Craobh Rua, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Traditional musician

Dee Craig, Belfast, Co. Antrim, MuralistMichael John Dalzell, Bushmills, Co.

Antrim, Whiskey Maker

Jimmy Darragh, Comhairle Uladh Cumann Lúthchleas Gael/GAA, Armagh, Co. Armagh, Gaelic sports

Margaret Deevy, PlayBoard, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Childrens’playleaders/Traditional games

Kevin Doherty, Four Men and a Dog, Traditional musician/songwriter

Gordon Donoghue, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, Whiskey Maker

Danny Donnelly, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Historian and Lough Neagh expert

John Doogan, Derrygonnelly, Co. Fermanagh, Belleek Pottery worker

Patsy Downey, Cuckoo’s Nest, Belfast, Co. Down, Musician

Leanne Drumm, Aughakillymaude Community Mummers, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Mummer

Gavin Duffy, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Hurling stick maker

Henry Johnston Elliott, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, Whiskey Maker

Trevor Erskine, Irish Football Association, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Soccer Coach

Caroline Fegan, All Set Ensemble, Newry, Co. Down, Traditional musician

Carina Ferguson, Aughakillymaude Community Mummers,Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh, Mummer/Irish Dancer/Musician

Patricia Flynn, Mullaghbawn, Newry, Co. Armagh, Traditional singer

Paul Flynn, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Mullaghbawn/Belfast, Presenter/Musician

Wes Forsythe, University of Ulster/Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, Marine archeologist

Mary Fox, All Set Ensemble, Portadown, Co. Armagh, Traditional dance/ dance instructor

Andrew Galvin, Northbrook Technology, Strabane, Co.Tyrone, Communication Coach

Brian Gardiner, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim, Motor sports

Kenneth Garvin, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, Whiskey Maker

John Gilliland, Rural Generation Ltm/Brook Hall Estate, Londonderry, Willow/Biomass/Green technologies

Maybelline Gormley, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Archaeologist

Len Graham, Mullaghbawn, Newry, Co. Armagh, Traditional Singer and storyteller

David Alexander Grant, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, Whiskey Maker

Alex Greene, Co Down, Catering InternJoanne Haire, Northbrook Technology,

Strabane, Co.Tyrone, Communication Coach

Elaine Harrison, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, Whiskey Maker

Anne Hart, The Armagh Rhymers, Armagh, Co. Armagh, Mummer

Kevin Hasson, Bogside Artists, Derry City, Co Londonderry, Muralist

Cathal Hayden, Four Men and A Dog, Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone, Traditional musician

Jarlath Henderson, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Traditional musician

Northern Ireland ParticipantsNorthern Ireland at the Smithsonian

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Washington DC 2007

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Lucy Mulholland, Carryduff, Co. Down, Ulster-Scots dancer and dance

instructor

Fintan Mullan, Ulster Historical Foundation, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Genealogy

Lorainne Mullin, Portadown, Co. Armagh, Dance dress maker and embroiderer

Donal Murphy, Four men and a Dog, Traditional musician

Jonathan Neilly, Thomas Ferguson Irish Linen, Banbridge, Co. Down Linen

Worker

Robert Noade, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Built Heritage and Conservation, Conservation Specialist

Francine Nugent, Co. Down, Catering

Intern

Gerry O’Connor, Four Men and a Dog, Traditional musician

Tomás Ó Maonaigh, The Nerve Centre, Londonderry, Co. Londonderry, Educator/Claymation filmmaker

Maureen Paterson, Hats By Maureen, Islandmagee, Co. Antrim, Hat maker/

Milliner

Mick Quinn, Mullaghbawn, Newry, Co. Armagh, Traditional singer and

storyteller

Tommy John Quinn, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, Eel Fisherman

John Quinn, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, Eel

Fisherman

Agnes Rainey, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, Whiskey Maker

Jim Rainey, Craobh Rua, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Traditional Musician

John Rankin, Newtownards, Co. Down, Dairy Farmer

Lyn Rankin, Carryduff, Co. Down, Ulster-

Scots dancer and dance instructor

Dessie Reilly, Aughakillymaude Mummers, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh, Mummer and straw weaver

Ian Ritchie, Harland and Wolff, Newtownabby, Co. Antrim, Mechanical fitter

John Robinson, Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Draftsman

Gary Rosborough, The Nerve Centre, Londonderry, Educator/ Claymation filmmaker

Catherine McLean Sands, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, Session Musician

Colum Sands, Rostrevor, Co. Down, Presenter

Michael Sands, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, Traditional Musician

Tommy Sands, Rostrevor, Co. Down, Singer/Song writer

Kenneth Shilliday, Moira, Co. Armagh, Environment and Built Heritage

Peter J. Shortall, The Armagh Rhymers, Keady, Co. Armagh, Mummer

Rachel Sinammon, Belfast Co. Antrim, Muralist

Lorraine Smith, Co. Down, Catering Intern

Rodney Smyth, Portadown, Co. Armagh, Carpet Manufacture

Nigel Spiers, Thomas Ferguson Irish Linen, Gilford, Craigavon, Co Armagh, Linen worker

Darren Sterritt, Markethill, Co. Armagh, Lambeg drum maker

Richard Sterritt, Markethill, Co. Armagh, Lambeg drum maker

Roland Sterritt, Markethill, Co. Armagh, Lambeg drum maker

Claire Tanney Ulster Carpets, Portadown

Billy Stirling, The National Trust/Carrick-A-Rede, Ballybogey, Co. Antrim, National Trust warden/ Stories and traditions of North Antrim

Nisha Tandon, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Indian community in Northern Ireland

Mark Thompson, The Low Country Boys, Traditional musician/singer

Graeme Thompson, The Low Country Boys, Newtownards, Traditional musician/singer

Aileen Tohill, Comhairle Uladh Cumann Lúthchleas Gael/GAA, Armagh, Co. Armagh, Gaelic sports

Marie-Louise Tohill, Playboard, Belfast, Co. Antrim, Childrens’playleaders/Traditional games

Caoimhin Vallely, Armagh Pipers Club, Armagh, Co. Armagh, Traditional musician

Cillian Vallely, Armagh Pipers Club, Armagh, Co. Armagh, Traditional musician

Dara Vallely, The Armagh Rhymers, Armagh, Co. Armagh, Mummer

Eithne Vallely, Armagh Pipers Club, Armagh, Co. Armagh, Traditional musician

Robert Watt, Maghera, Co. Londonderry, Highland bagpiper/Pipe band culture

Roisín White, Cavanalaw, Armagh, Traditional singer/Irish language teacher

Grahame Wickham, Co. Down, Catering Intern

Barry Willis, Larne, Co. Antrim, Rugby coach

Janet Wilmont, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, Whiskey maker

Mark Wilson, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, Snare drumming/Pipe band drumming

Gibson Young, The Low Country Boys, Greyabbey, Co. Down, Traditional musician/singer

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Washington DC 2007

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Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors:

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