The Kennedy Centre hosts one of the most important Irish arts festivals ever staged in the USA.
Island Arts from Ireland was officially opened by the President of Ireland Mary McAleese at the Kennedy Centre in Washington. The festival was the brainchild of former US Ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith. The opening was marked with a concert attended by a host of VIPs including US Secretary of State Madeline Albright. President Mary McAleese is on a five day visit to the US.
The Kennedy Centre was filled with the sounds of Ireland.
The concert featured a broad range of Irish music and included performances from Riverdance and Donal Lunny. The show also featured a mix of musical traditions and cultures including bluegrass musician Ricky Skaggs.
The concert set the scene for almost two weeks of Irish theatre, music, poetry and prose. Speaking at the opening Jean Kennedy Smith said her late brother John F Kennedy would have been very proud of the festival.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 14 May 2000. The reporter is Mark Little.
