The Irish in Europe Association (International) aisbl (a Non-Profit Association) have invested heavily in financial and volunteer terms in the promotion of the Cork-Brussels link.

Photo: Courtesy of Irish Embassy of Ireland to Kingdom of Belgium

Other Achievements

*They established the Cork Jazz Festival Club of Brussels to raise the profile of Cork as a destination.

*They launched a number of CDs promoting Cork and Irish links with Europe.

*They have commissioned a special two way logo to promote the route.

They established the West Cork–Belgian Irish Committee.

*They have featured Cork as a holiday destination at many info stands in Brussels. They promoted in Brussels  the island of Ireland and Cork in 7 languages as a holiday destination.

*They organised the most attended Irish Exhibition in Brussels (curated by THE GALLERY KINSALE) since Ireland’s membership of the EU during the Irish Presidency with the Irish in Europe Art & Photo Exhibitions-‘ Cork Meets Brussels & Brussels meets Westport’. These were at Halles Saint Gery & Galerie Anspach.

*They continuously promote the 2500 KM Wild Atlantic Way on the West Coast of Ireland from Cork to Donegal  and in 2014 organised the Limerick (National City of Culture)  meets Brussels  & Brussels meets Sligo ( European Town of Sport).

*They launched the Irish in Europe Cultural Exchange Programme taking exhibitions from Brussels & Belgium to Ireland. Two exhibitions are currently on tour in Ireland –Brussels ‘Like a Tree Exhibition’ and the Paul Hankar Student Art Nouveau Conceptual Exhibition presently on Exhibit at the Skyline Gallery for the Bandon Arts Festival.  Other venues included Cork Airport and the Vision Centre in Cork.

*In October of this year during attendance at the Global Cork Economic Forum, the Community Ambassador programme was launched and the integration programme ‘ Crossing Borders’ on the Terrace was also  launched at the Electric Pub and Restaurant. The Irish in Europe Association  established its Irish Office at THE GALLERY KINSALE, 57 Main Street, Kinsale,Co. Cork to co-ordinate the cultural exchange programme between Ireland and Europe and the development the Community Ambassador Programme.

* In 2015 the European Premiere concert of ‘Music of Bloom’ takes place in Cork to recognise James Joyce’s Cork Routes and the influence of his Cork roots in his literary works.

* In 2015 the Irish in Europe Association plan to bring from Ireland a new exhibition to recognise the Irish participation in the Battle of Waterloo 1815 and the 276,000 Irish Volunteers that helped liberate Belgium in the First World War. This exhibition will be titled: ‘Irish Connections- From Waterloo to Flanders Fields’

* The annual ‘Brussels Saint Patrick’s Day Parade of the Regions’ is organised by the Irish in Europe Association and will be organised again in 2015  on Sunday March 15. Participation in this Parade has been growing each year and has does much to promote Irish identity, integration and culture since 2009.

* In 2015 Many more activities are planned to build more relations between Ireland and Belgium and in particularly support the Cork –Brussels route.  If you want to help in any way contact info@irishineurope.org for Belgium or Ireland.