Reception to welcome Fergus Linehan, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival

Consul General Pat Bourne hosted a reception on October 28 at the Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh to welcome and introduce Fergus Linehan, who has assumed the role of Director of the Edinburgh International Festival as of October 1. Linehan, from Dublin, is the first Irishman to be appointed Director and takes over from Sir Jonathan Mills who had been in the post for 8 years.

The event, which was organised in partnership with the Irish Business Network (IBN) was attended by about 40 guests, including senior businesspeople and local cultural figures.

In his introductory remarks, CG Bourne spoke about the importance of culture and the arts in the Irish-British and Irish-Scottish relationships, the global prestige of the Edinburgh Festival, and the benefits of links between business and the arts. He also referred to forthcoming events and plans of the Irish Government and the Consulate, including the Year of Irish Design 2015 and the commemorations of the 150th birth anniversary of WB Yeats, also in 2015.

Linehan spoke about his background, growing up as the son of actress Rosaleen Linehan, even reminding the audience that one of the roles she was famous for was in the ‘I want my Liga’ ad when she uttered the immortal line ‘Children these days, so demanding!’ He also outlined his priorities and his plans for his term as Director of the Festival, hinting that we are likely to see quite a lot of Irish content in 2015 and beyond, including some traditional and folk music from Ireland. Linehan expressed appreciation for the support of the Consulate and underlined his commitment to working closely with the Irish business and cultural community in the period ahead.