Irish fiddle-player Martin Hayes was today (7 January 2019) announced as one of five new Cultural Ambassadors as part of the Irish Government’s Global Ireland 2025 initiative.

Global Ireland 2025 is a strategy launched last June with the aim of increasing Ireland’s global prominence and influence across a range of sectors, namely education, sport, security and defence, diplomacy, communications, connectivity and culture.

The five Cultural Ambassadors, appointed by Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD, are Hayes, architects Shelly McNamara and Yvonne Farrell of Grafton Architects, actress Ruth Negga and poet Paul Muldoon. The role of the Ambassadors is to raise the public focus on arts and culture as a means of promoting Ireland, provide advice on cultural initiatives, and participate in key events and projects.

The first event is a conference that will be hosted by Culture Ireland in Dublin Castle on 24 January to discuss Ireland’s global cultural impact.

Announcing the Ambassadors, Minister Madigan said:

Ireland’s artists … are the people that set our small island nation apart, the storytellers who convey Ireland’s story in a unique and memorable way, be it through word, music or design. We greatly appreciate each Cultural Ambassador’s acceptance of the role. In continuing to do what they do best, they will be among Ireland’s greatest representatives globally.

Minister Madigan also said that ‘the Government understands the importance of culture and is committed to supporting it. This is why the Taoiseach has committed to doubling funding levels for culture, heritage and the Gaeltacht by 2025.’

The Minister presented the Cultural Ambassadors with a silver emblem by silversmith Seamus Gill to mark their appointment.

Martin Hayes was recently announced as Best Folk Instrumentalist at the inaugural RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards and in November was conferred with an Honorary Degree by NUI Galway.