Embassy News and Events for Autumn 2015
1. Applications for the new passport card will now be accepted on-line from Irish citizens. This card will allow Irish citizens to travel within all thirty countries of the European Union and European Economic Area (EEA). Adult citizens who already have a valid Irish passport book are eligible to apply for the card, which is designed to fit easily into any wallet or purse. The fee for a Passport Card is €35, with an additional €5 postal fee for those who reside outside Ireland. Visit the website for further information.
2. In order to avoid the passport Christmas rush, please take a moment to check that your passport is not about to expire, especially if you are travelling at Christmas time. There is currently a seven-week processing time, so apply early if a renewal is necessary, to avoid disappointment. For information on how to apply, see our passport section on the webpage
3. The presentation of Lourdes Márquez Carmona´s book entitled “La Memoria de los Irlandeses: Cádiz y la familia Butler”, which examines the strong Irish connections with Cádiz, will take place in the Centro Riojano (c/Serrano 25) on Tuesday 20 October at 19.30. Everyone is welcome to attend.
4. Next week sees the Creative Connexions Festival take place in Sitges, Barcelona. This is the 4th edition of the Irish-Catalán Festival which brings together internationally renowned musicians, artists and performers through exhibitions, readings, lectures, workshops and performances. This year’s event takes place from October 23-25.
5. Saturday 24th October will see the second day of the International Juvenile Gaelic Football Tournament, with teams from Ireland, England, Scotland, Madrid and Belgium participating.
6. The Bloomsday Society in Madrid will once again begin their monthly readings of Ulysses, with a new location this season in the library of the Ateneo. The first gathering will be held on Wednesday October 28th, from 19.30. Everyone is more than welcome to join. For more information please see our webpage.
7. The presentation of “From Ireland to Poland, Northern Europe, Spain and the Early Modern World”, edited by Enrique García Hernán and Ryszard Skowron, takes place on the 29th October at 6pm in CESEDEN (Paseo de la Castellana 61). The book brings together a fascinating collection of writings on the links between Spain and northern Europe in the early modern period, ranging from Ireland in the west to Poland and the Hanseatic states in the east.
8. The 12th edition of the Cáceres Fleadh will be taking place on 30, 31 October and 1 November. Please consult their webpage for the full programme of this exciting musical weekend.
9. The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade has launched a bimonthly Global Irish newsletter containing news and features relevant to the Irish diaspora which can be signed up to at the following link: https://www.dfa.ie/global-irish/staying-in-touch/newsletter/
10. The SIBN St. Patrick’s Day Charity Gala Ball committee is gearing up for the 2016 Ball, and is looking for volunteers who would like to get involved and help out. If so, please send an email to info@stpatricksday.es. The proceeds from the Ball will go to ASWE (Asociación Sindrome Williams España) and WSAI (Williams Syndrome Association Ireland). Save the date: please put Friday 18 March in the Palace Hotel in your diaries!
11. The Global Irish Design Challenge is calling on all designers with strong links to Ireland to submit a product, project or concept that has the potential to revolutionise the way we live. Deadline for entries is the 30 November.
12. Alcine Festival will be on in Alcalá de Henares from 6-13 November, and plans to show a number of short Irish films as part of the Language Learning section of the festival. Full details to follow on the Embassy website and via Twitter
13. For all you shoppers out there, Primark opened their flagship store on Gran Via 32, on Thursday 15 October. It is the 2nd largest of their stores in the world, after the one in Manchester, with 5 floors and a showroom on top.
14. Ciorcal Cómhrá/Irish Conversation Group - Ar mhaith leat úsáid a bhaint as do chúpla focal i suíomh neamh-fhoirmeálta? Ar mhiste leat feabhas a chur ar do Ghaeilge, nó í a chleachtadh? Más ea, b’fhéidir go mbainfeá taitneamh as Ciorcal Cómhrá nua i Madrid! Buailfimid le chéile uair sa mhí i dteach tabhairne áitiúil, agus eagróimid tógraí agus turais ar uaireamh freisin. Má tá suim agat ann, téigh i dteagmháil le Caitlín Higgins Ní Chinnéide ag caitlin.higginsnichinneide[at]dfa[dot]ie. Ba bhreá linn a chloisteáil uait! Feel like dusting off your cúpla focal and chatting in an informal setting? Want to improve or keep up your level of Irish? If so, Madrid’s new Ciorcal Cómhrá may be just the thing for you! We’ll meet once a month in a local pub and also organise occasional trips and outings. If you’re interested in finding out more, please contact Caitlín Higgins Ní Chinnéide at caitlin.higginsnichinneide[at]dfa[dot]ie. We’d love to hear from you!
15. The Yeats Society wishes to say a big thank-you to all who helped to make the June 2015 Yeats celebrations at the Ateneo de Madrid and at La Quinta de Mahler (LQM) such a success. The visiting Yeats-inspired painters and sculptor from Ireland, and the Torrelodones-based Yeats-inspired jeweller were thrilled by their two-week exhibition at the Ateneo. A wonderful venue for a fitting tribute to W.B. Yeats.