The landscape we live in is the primary source of our unique identity. As the world converges through the globalising influence of systems of production and communication it becomes all the more important to differentiate ourselves through how we value our most precious resources.

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2024 is an important year for Ireland in Asia. The new Asia Strategy document was launched in the autumn of 2023 and this year Ireland and India are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. While the extent and importance of our shared histories are understood and acknowledged, these events offer the opportunity to focus on new connections and build future synergies. In the recent past, Ireland has welcomed over 70,000 Indians who are actively contributing to the growth of Irish society as well as some 7,000 students, each year, who come for higher studies at institutions across the country. In contrast, the current Irish presence in India is more limited.

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To increase the awareness of Ireland beyond diplomatic and administrative circles, it is proposed to use the anniversary as a way of creating new access to the diversity and potential of Ireland today.

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Blas in Ireland is essentially derived from the relationship we have to our landscape, which we manifest, in some form or other. Rather than trying to compete with India’s exceptional creative and cultural traditions, we need to differentiate ourselves in terms of quality. By focusing on the Nature of Ireland, through various mediums, we are giving potential viewers a unique experience. This week-long event will present Ireland using food and the inspiration of artists across different media, a multi-sensory immersion.

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The challenge is to create a platform for Ireland in India that can be enjoyed by a broad cross-section of people in India – presently the focus is on New Delhi – and can also become the point of engagement for a wide range of Institutions in Ireland.

The curation of content will focus on creating opportunities for maximum audience participation through workshops and demonstrations across a range of media.

This will be a way to connect with a broad cross-section of people in New Delhi - the event could travel to other Indian metros also. Currently, the proposed location is the Triveni Kala Sangam, (TKS) a very well-established not-for-profit cultural organisation, embedded in the cultural and social life of the city, offering a wide range of facilities. It is an ideal central location, near Mandi House, which already has a huge footfall of visitors coming for cultural events and students attending creative classes of all kinds.

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Central to the week-long festival would be a celebration of sustainable and, where possible, organic Irish food and drink which will be based out of the Triveni Café and the other facilities of the TKS.

Darina Allen, of the Ballymaloe Cookery School, is offering her services as a cook and lecturer.

She is already very well connected to food in India through her association with Madhur Jaffrey and the involvement she has with the Holkar family in Maheshwar.

The Triveni Café, run by Rajesh Ohja, is at the heart of this institution. He has an interest in Ireland having visited some years ago in his capacity as head of the Indian Adventure Tourism Association. Contact has already been established with the TKS and with Rajesh Ohja and both parties are provisionally ‘on board’ for late November 2024.

It is proposed that chefs from the Triveni cafe could travel to the Ballymaloe Cookery School for some training. There is already a network of Indian cooks who have trained in Ballymaloe and could contribute in some way to the event. They came having followed the Rachel Allen cookery series that was broadcast in India some years ago.

Darina and Rajesh would collaborate in the organising of a series of menus served at the cafe, using Irish and Indian food and ingredients. They would also run several demonstrations around key ingredients.

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In tandem with the celebration of Blas through food and drink will be an exhibition of the work of Irish Women Artists for whom the landscape is a source of creative inspiration.

Dorothy Cross, Maria Simonds-Gooding, Michelle Boyle and Sasha Sykes all have their connections to India, as well as being inspired by the Irish landscape. Representative works from each artist will be selected to become part of this narrative exhibition.

“All the Worlds Between” is a Collaborative Poetry Project between India and Ireland that was established some years ago by Poetry Ireland, which brought together Irish and Indian poets. This can form the basis of a series of Poetry events at TKS.

Fis Eireann/Screen Ireland has been very active in India, promoting Ireland as a location for the filming and production of Indian films. Using the theme of landscape a collection of Irish films will be curated with the support of FE, from the historic O’Flaherty, Man of Aran to Bairead's, An
Cailin Ciuin.

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann support all forms of traditional live music throughout the island of Ireland and abroad. They also have many Indian members who are already sharing their own skills and learning Irish ones. Members of CCE could be invited to perform and to teach during the Irish week.

Dance is central to all Indian folk traditions. A shared expression of community. The synergy with Irish forms of dance are obvious. The TKS is already a hub for Indian dance. Explore the complimentary forms and rhythms using Irish dancers. Link with Gardener Brothers or similar.

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