The Irish Association of Korea has organized an Irish themed Christmas Party in Reilly’s Taphouse Gastropub in Iteawon on Saturday December 14th.
It promises to be a fun-filled night involving great drinks offers, live Irish music and a chance to win some amazing prizes including a giant box of Tayto crisps! Doors open at 8pm and entry is 10,000 won. We hope to see you there. For more details, join the Facebook event HERE.
St Patrick’s day is not just for those who happen to be in Seoul on Sat March 16th. For the past number of years Linda Gormally has arranged a Patrick’s Day event in Chuncheon. It started out small (there was only one other Irish person living in Chuncheon when Linda moved there) but has gotten steadily bigger. 
Last year it involved Irish food, listening and dancing to music and even complete beginners learning to play the tinwhistle! This year the party will take place at Lounge Pub T7 (with festivities continuing on at the One Luv Club in Kangdae Humoon later on that night) on Friday March 15th. For updates look at the FB event page (we’ll also post updates as we get them)
So if you know anyone in the Chuncheon area then let them know about this, and if you should meet Linda make sure to congratulate her for getting this off the ground!
We’re running quite a lot of events this December and we hope that you have time to come along to one (or all of them).
First up this weekend we have the December Irish Session Jam which will be at Freeport in Hongdae, on Sat Dec 8th at 17:30. This is an informal gathering of musicians playing and celebrating their common interest in a relaxed manner with an audience who likes to listen to good music. More details here.
The following day (Sun 9th at 13:15 near Hapjeong station) there is a opportunity to learn some traditional Irish step dancing. This hour long class is designed for complete beginners. All you need is some comfortable shoes and clothes. Come along, meet new people and learn some Irish dancing! More details here.
The big event in our December calendar is the IAK Christmas party. This year it takes place at Bar Americano on Sat Dec 15th (starting at 7:30 pm). We’ve got some great music lined up for the evening, promotions on drinks and a raffle with fantastic prizes. More info here (and on Meetup and Facebook)
Then what better way to get ready for the NY than to continue on with those traditional Irish step dancing classes. On Sun 30th at 13:15 near Hapjeong station) there is another hour long class designed for complete beginners. All you need is some comfortable shoes and clothes. Come along, meet new people and learn some Irish dancing! More details here.
“As we pivot into autumn and summer becomes a memory, I hope you had a good break, whether that involved holidaying in Korea, taking a vacation nearby or, best of all, enjoying a break in Ireland. Before visiting family in the US, I took some time to hike part of the Kerry Way with my son, starting on a glorious day at Waterville. The weather did not keep up over following days but even with cloud overhead, Kerry is beautiful. Between hostelries along the way and Bed and Breakfasts at day’s end, it was a wonderful experience.
Returning from familiar settings reminds me that living far away from home can be a stressful experience as well as enjoyable and exciting. Many us living wihout our networks of family and long-term friends and well known professionals close-by have times when we’d like to speak to someone independent about the issues we are facing and how they are making us feel without having to deal with differences of cultural background.
A service established in July 2011 provides just this space. The Irish Online Counselling and Psychotherapy Service will arrange to speak to Irish people living abroad online through instant messaging, telephone and Skype. They are available outside Irish office hours and they are already speaking to Irish people all over the world. Further information is available at http://www.counsellingonline.ie/ and http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/generationemigration/2012/08/01/providing-support-beyond-the-departure-gates/.
I thought you might be interested in some catch up about the things that are on our radar screens here at the Embassy.
The Irish Association of Korea is hosting its second autumn Céilí at D-Cube Plaza, Shindorim. Last year’s event was wonderful with Irish music and dancing in the amphitheatre there and great facilities and shops in the adjacent shopping mall. If you are free, please join us on Saturday 15 September next, between 1pm and 5pm.
Ireland continues to make progress in terms of meeting its targets under the EC/ECB/IMF programme. Revenue remains on course and our underlying budget deficit is decreasing, though payments in response to the banking crisis continue to be a major burden. As a measure of increase confidence in our recovery, the National Treasury Management Agency returned to the markets with a bond offer last July. This generated strong investor demand with commitments of €5.23 billion.
A full return to the international bond market depends on resolving the crisis in the Eurozone because only that will definitively lower bond yields. Confidence in the Euro has been boosted considerably this week by the announcement by the ECB of using unlimited monetary resources to support the bond market. That the ECB’s council of central bankers agreed to this yesterday, with the support of EU leaders, indicates a new level of determination to protect and preserve the Euro. Markets have already rallied and the Euro strengthened. The key is to sustain this confidence. This and a return of demand in Europe will greatly boost growth prospects in exporting countries like Ireland and Korea.
Ireland does not export natural resources like Russia and the Middle East. Our exports are not based on commodities like South American economies. We offer an educated, talented and flexible workforce, combined with a low rate of tax at 12.5% on trading profits and an excellent business environment that is competitive and facilitates enterprise. In short, we trade on our reputation as a place to invest, to do business and to live.
It was important therefore that Ireland has steadily improved its reputation. According to a recent survey of public opinion within the top G8 countries, our ranking as a reputable country has improved from 17th to 15th (Canada ranked first, Iraq last.) We were 11th in three previous studies and so we have a ways to go but we are moving in the right direction. For more information, visit http://www.corporatereputations.ie.
Here in Seoul, we will have a unique platform to highlight Ireland’s road to recovery and the future of the Eurozone when former Taoiseach John Bruton addresses the 13th World Knowledge Forum on 10th October next. The forum, organised by the Maeil Media Group whose daily business newspaper is the fourth largest in the world by circulation, convenes some 3,000 leaders, policy makers and academics for presentations and discussions.
While the Foreign Direct Investment sector in Ireland has driven our growth since the 1960s and comprises the bulk of our exports, Ireland does have a vigorous indigenous sector and I will profile some of our leading exporters over the coming months. I am often asked, for example, what does Ireland export to Korea? I will look at some of those stories but also further a-field to give you a sense of Ireland’s economic future from the perspective of our entrepreneurs.
Have a good weekend,
Best wishes,
Eamonn
Eamonn McKee
Ambassador
Remember we asked you vote for D-Cube City in the MIPIN awards?
Well thanks to those of you that did vote, because D-Cube City has won the People’s Choice Award. Congratulations to Daesung and everyone at D-Cube!
And hopefully we will see some of you at the D-Cube City Plaza at the 2012 St Patrick’s Festival this Sat March 17th from 12:30 to 18:00. It looks like being a great day!
We have the schedule for next Saturday’s free St Patrick’s Festival. There should be lots for everyone to enjoy:
12:30-13:00 US 8th Army Band
13:00-13:20 Introductory speeches by Irish Ambassador, Dr. Eamonn McKee and IAK chair Conor O’Reilly
13:20-13:50 Banu (traditional Irish group)
13:50-14:20 Step dancers + audience dancing (spot prize for best dancer)
14:20-15:00 Have No Name (Korean U2 tribute band)
15:00-15:30 Bard (Korean traditional Irish band)
15:30-15:45 Step dancers + audience dancing
15:45-16:00 Bard (Korean traditional Irish band)
16:00-16:30 Audience dancing (spot prize for best dancer)
16:30-16:45 Banu (traditional Irish group)
16:45-17:20 Dara Sheehan (Irish contemporary)
17:20-18:00 Sweet Murphy’s Fancy (contemporary rock band)
Here’s a clip from Have No Name (when they were known as Deafening Street)
All performance times and performers may change at the organisers discretion.
The evening hooley at the Rocky Mountain Tavern will have 2 floors of music, on the smoke free first floor level we will have performances by Dara Sheehan and Irish traditional group Irish Tea. Things are going to be a bit noisier on the second floor with Have No Name, The Drunk Democracy and Sweet Murphy’s Fancy all playing. Don’t forget the 6 nations rugby match (Ireland v England) will be shown at 02:00 am (internet feed). Tickets for the evening event will be available at the door (price 10,000 krw, drinks promotions on the evening).
Join us this Saturday, March 10th, for the last ceili dancing before St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you’re polish off your dancing skills or just beginning, come along, have some fun and meet new people.
Further details here.
The IAK are proud to bring you St Patrick’s Festival 2012. This is the 12th year we’ve run this festival in Korea and we think this year will be one of the best. It takes place in the D-Cube Plaza near Sindorim station on Saturday March 17th (just over 2 weeks away), starting at 12:30 pm and finishing at 6 pm, and remember it is completely free. On stage we will have a great mix of music from Irish, Korean and international musicians, we’ll also have lots of Irish dancing and will be encouraging the audience to participate. Off stage we will have a range of Irish foods to sample, fun for kids (including face painting and balloon art), sporting demonstrations by the Seoul Gaels. Celebrations will continue after the daytime festival with a St Patrick’s party in the Rocky Mountain Tavern in Itaewon running from 7 pm til late. So put on your green clothes and come along on March 17th, everyone can be Irish for one day!
For full details look here http://iak.co.kr/events/st-patricks-2012/
Due to the popularity of previous Irish dancing evenings, I.A.K. is holding two more dancing events before St. Patrick’s Day.
This Saturday, March 3rd come along to the Columban Centre from 8pm-10pm. The centre is located at Line 4 SungShin Women’s University (성신여대입구), exit 4. You will see a sign on the wall and just walk straight for 50 mts.
Saturday March 10th the dancing will take place in 우용오수빌 from 8pm to 10pm. Heogi Station (회기역), Line 1 exit 1. Walk straight, turn left at Family Mart. The dancing is in the basement of the building on the left (우용오수빌)
If you’ve never tried Irish dancing before don’t worry, it’s great craic (Irish word for fun) and a great way to meet new people. For all upcoming events check out the website www.iak.co.kr
A bit more info here (and links to the meetup/facebook events) http://iak.co.kr/events/irish-ceili-and-set-dancing-mar-3rd-2012/
D-Cube City Plaza is where the IAK held its Irish Dance and Music festival in September 2011…and it’s also where we will hold the 2012 St Patrick’s Festival on Sat March 17th from 12:30 to 18:00 (more news about that tomorrow)!
We like the space there a lot, so if you’ve enjoyed the festival there last September or are planning to come to our St Patrick’s festival, or if you just like the design out at D-Cube (maybe you are a Pororo fan and have been to the theme park out there) why not go and vote for D-Cube City in the MIPIN Awards 2012?
Daesung have been very generous to the IAK over the last number of years, hosting our festivals and providing much appreciated support for our activities. We’re very grateful to the Daesung Group and want offer thanks on behalf of all our members and all of those who have enjoyed IAK events.
Irish Association of Korea 한국아일랜드협회 