Latvia

Whiskey and beer festival or the first Irish Days in Riga

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December 3, 2016

Irish Days in Latvia will be celebrated in Latvia next week with all kinds of cultural and entertainment events. The goal of this celebration is to promote ancient and modern Irish traditions and further deepen relations between Latvia and Ireland.

This year’s Irish Days will revolve around film, visual art, as well as Jameson Caskmates and beer enjoyment traditions. From 5 December and throughout the entire week residents will be able to partake in Irish film events in bars and cafes around Riga. Short films will be shown in Mākonis cocktail bar on Monday. In VEST bar, on the other hand, residents will be able to have a look at the most beautiful moments of Ireland’s sports history, specifically rugby.

On Thursday, 8 December, Splendid Palace film theatre will open the Wild Atlantic Way film festival. According to Ireland’s ambassador to Latvia Seamus Mac Aonghusa, the name was chosen intentionally: «The Wild Atlantic Way is an equally scenic and harsh road that spans 2,600 km. It runs along Ireland’s western coast and embodies the taste of Ireland. Films directed by Irish and Latvian film directors will be shown during the festival. All of them reflect this Irish taste and perception.»

8 December will mark the opening event of the film festival and the first showing of Run and Jump film in Latvia. On 9 December there will be a showing of Calvary film. Before the showing, visitors will be able to listen to the performance of Spārnos Irish-Latvia duo and watch short films.

Throughout the entire week, visitors will also be able to experience and ancient and eternal Irish tradition – enjoyment of beer and whiskey. Guests of the event will be able to taste beer along with Jameson Caskmates whiskey.

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