A packed line-up of arts, film and music was tonight unveiled in Dublin as part of the capital's Chinese New Year Celebrations.
City Hall was awash with traditional Chinese decoration and native entertainment as the festival was unveiled by Lord Mayor Paddy Bourke along with Chinese Ambassador Liu Biwei.
Fashion designer John Rocha, who was born in Hong Kong, was also due to be present as details of the 11-day event scheduled for the beginning of February were announced.
Chinese New Year falls on February 7 and 2008 marks the year of the Rat.
Mr Bourke said: "This celebration is an expression of the positive contribution of our Chinese population to the life of Dublin City.
"It is great to see Dublin City Council's Intercultural Relations Unit organising such an important integrative festival in the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008."
The festival is being jointly organised by Dublin City Council and Dublin Chinese New Year Festival Association.
Highlights include the seven-day Chinese Film Festival in the Irish Film Institute (IFI), the launch of the Beijing Olympic 2008 pack in University College Dublin and the Chinese Carnival in Smithfield.
On New Years' Day Lion Dances will take place in various streets across the city to herald in the year of the Rat.
Official Festival Mascot "Lin Lin" the Rat will officially close the 2008 Chinese New Year Festival on February 11 with a torch being lit to wish the Irish athletes good luck.
It will carried out of the carnival into the Dublin night to the backdrop of a pyrotechnic display bidding them and the festival farewell.
Further details on the festival can be obtained from logging on to www.dublin.ie/cny
PA