If you haven't yet ventured to the Emerald Isle, then take a trip to the Etihad Irish Festival taking place in Abu Dhabi this coming weekend, starting Thursday and continuing until Saturday. Rebecca McLaughlin-Duane got the inside track from its organiser Trevor Buckley, vice president of the Abu Dhabi Irish Society and chairman of Na Fianna, the UAE's Gaelic football and hurling club.
Who do you expect to attend?
Hundreds of Irish people from the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and even the Far East will descend on Abu Dhabi. I expect hundreds of UAE expatriates to also attend what promises to be a truly memorable weekend - Ta me ag súil go mór sibh ar fad a fheiceáil ann (I am looking forward to seeing you all there).
What will be the star attractions?
Our main and star act is Hermitage Green, an up-and-coming five-piece band from Ireland. They are extremely popular and specialize in traditional Irish music with a modern twist. In all, about 600 people will pack into Splash Garden at Aloft Hotel on Friday to hear them play. People will also have the chance to see some Irish dancing and listen to music by Thresh the Corn at the City Golf Club during the festival.
Sports fans won't want to miss the Kentz GAA Middle East Championship which will take place in Zayed Sports City. So, come along and marvel at hurling - the fastest field game in the world! Irish Gaelic football legend and sports pundit Pat Spillane will be in attendance throughout the weekend. too.
Adults aside, kids will be well catered for with plenty of free activities available on-site from face painting to bouncy castles.
The Irish have long made the UAE a home-from-home. Why do you think that is?
The UAE is a fantastic country with huge opportunities for Irish people. Skilled Irish workers from teachers, nurses, lawyers and those in construction have the chance to secure great employment in this region. There is also a lot of sun, which to be honest, we don't get a lot of in Ireland. In addition, the UAE is a top location for world-class music and sporting events, which appeals greatly to Irish people.
The amount of Irish expatriates choosing to settle here is growing all the time and that was a primary reason for me hosting this event. The trend is also evident within the Abu Dhabi Irish society where numbers have trebled in the past two years alone. Abu Dhabi is a fantastic city with quality hotels, golf courses and facilities so what better way to show them off than by having the venues full of smiling Irish people? I'm very proud to live in such a cosmopolitan city and see this as a golden opportunity to showcase Ireland and all it has to offer.
Why do you think the Emiratis and the Irish have a reputation for getting on so well?
I think the greatest qualities Irish people have is their sense of humor and their generosity. These are qualities which are very evident in the many Emiratis I am exposed to on a daily basis. The Irish are also an easygoing people and tend to get on well with most nationalities.
Is there potential for a UAE Irish Festival to be held in Dubai next year too, considering the large community of Irish expatriates there?
It is not something I had thought of but with the growing Irish population in the country it might be possible to hold a joint venture with our near neighbors in Dubai. We tend to support each other's events as much as possible so I am sure it's something which could occur.
* For further details and ticketing information visit www.irishsocietyabudhabi.com or www.abudhabinafianna.com
rduane@thenational.ae
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
BlacKkKlansman
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: John David Washington; Adam Driver
Five stars
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke
Two stars
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
