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Ireland is promising to fill its pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai with the sounds and sights that epitomise the spirit of the country.
Visitors will be charmed by daily performances by the pavilion's in-house musicians, and encouraged to take part in inter-cultural conversations and panel discussions.
You will be informed, be entertained and above you will be given a warm Irish welcome
Pat Hennessy,
commissioner general of the Ireland Pavilion
Children aged seven to 17 will be invited to learn computer coding in classes provided by Coder Dojo, a global volunteer-led community that provides free programming workshops for young people.
St Patrick's Day is expected to be a highlight, with organisers planning lively celebrations, including a guest appearance by Martin Hayes, one of Ireland’s most revered traditional musicians.
The National Day concert will take the audience through a rendition of memorable songs including classics from U2, The Cranberries, Hozier, Snow Patrol and The Corrs.
Ireland’s theme for Expo 2020 Dubai is Putting Creativity at the Centre of Human Experience in the 21st Century.
The pavilion, which is in the Mobility district, draws inspiration from classical western and Islamic architectural traditions, with an enclosed element and a cloistered courtyard.
Upon entering the pavilion, visitors will step into the Oculus Room – a space with a distinctive cone-shaped funnel based on the Newgrange light box, meaning sunlight enters through the skylight at the top of the cone, lighting up the main exhibition space.
The courtyard area will be where visitors are encouraged to relax and enjoy regular music performances from The Expo Players, the pavilion's in-house ensemble.
The musicians, who work on rotation, will introduce visitors to Irish music, its history, instruments and stories.
They will also create their own interpretations of songs from the Irish songbook, and reveal the background to, and history of, the songs.
Pat Hennessy, commissioner general of the Ireland Pavilion, said the aim is to celebrate Irish creativity in all forms.
"You will be informed, be entertained and above you will be given a warm Irish welcome," Mr Hennessy said.
"Our visitors will see the exciting work of talented Irish designers, innovators and inventors.
"The pavilion will offer a host of workshops for visitors of all ages whether you want to be part of our CoderDojo groups [teaching computer programming], or to learn more about Irish music and culture."
Expo 2020 Dubai opens on October 1, and will feature 192 country pavilions and cuisines from around the world.
Tickets start from Dh95 for an adult for the whole month of October, while entry for children and senior citizens is free.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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