From the singing voices of the 'Forget me knot' choir, to young performers from the Circus Explored group, more than 300 guests gathered at Croke Park in Dublin to celebrate the first Creative Ireland 'Shared Island' conference.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan addressed the event, explaining how the 'Shared Island' initiative aims to harness the potential of the Good Friday Agreement to "enhance cooperation, connection and a shared sense of community across the island of Ireland".
First established eight years ago, Creative Ireland, has been responsible for managing the creativity sector projects for 'Shared Island' since 2023, and so far has invested €6 million from the fund to a range of projects.
The Creativity Connecting People event today celebrated the work of more than 45 projects, scattered across 23 counties with each province represented.
Speaking at the event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the Good Friday Agreement has commitments to "strive in a very practical way" towards reconciliation on the island, and while the reconciliation has "not always been easy," Shared Island was established to "explore ways to better live alongside each other."
An Taoiseach said that it takes "creativity, a willingness to find words and ways to express and explore our differences" to create a common ground and a "willingness to imagine a future that is different."
The Creative Ireland programme has shown "how imagination and shared purpose" can help shape a "brighter, more connected future for everyone who calls this island home", the Taoiseach noted.
The conference featured performances from a range of groups including Music Generation Laois, and Sharing Songs - Unforgettable Voices, alongside panel discussions and exhibitions exploring experiences and stories. The conference included a pop up sensory room, which drew on the natural world as a unique experience for guests too.
Minister Patrick O'Donovan said that the Shared Island initiative is important in bringing communities together. "The choirs, the literature, the art work, the tapestries - whether you are Catholic or Protestant, you experience it the very same" he said.
An Taoiseach said that the Shared Island initiative is unique compared to other Government programmes as it had a €1 billion budget committed to it up to 2035.
It is "the only item" with a budget attached in the programme for Government, An Taoiseach noted.
Minister O'Donovan this approach was important as "you can't put a metric of value on the people inside there" , adding "how would I get a cost benefit analysis for the Department of Public expenditure and reform from the coming together of two choirs from Dublin and Larne?" he asked.
For Tanya Banotti, Director of Creative Ireland the conference, which hosted guests from across the island was a "great celebration, a huge success and most of all, great fun."
Creative Ireland has "huge ambitions for the next three years to increase all our people to people creative projects," she added.
Find out more about Creative Ireland's 'Shared Island' project here
