Romanian delegation celebrates culture link

BECKETT and Ionesco, Brancusi and Joyce. When the Romanian delegation to this weekend's summit celebrated the arrival in Dublin of the country's newly-elected president, Mr Emil Constantinescu, the main topic of conversation was not, surprisingly, economic expansion but culture - specifically, the strong cultural links between Ireland and Romania.

The mood of the reception at the Irish Writers' Centre in Parnell Square, was strikingly informal and, for those familiar with the appalling difficulties faced by Romanian writers and artists in the past, hearteningly upbeat.

The newly-appointed Romanian minister for culture, the actor and theatre director, Mr Ion Caramitru, recalled the steady stream of Romanian-lrish artistic events in recent years - exhibitions of major art works, literary translations, joint theatre projects - like the Gerry Stembridge play which featured three young Romanian actors and three Irish ones, exchange programmes.

The playwright Sebastian Barry was all smiles having just been told that his play Boss Grady's Boys is still running in Brasov and is to tour to Bucharest.

Dublin culture vultures would have had no trouble recognising faces at Friday night's reception; Colm Toibin was there, as was Gerry Stembridge, and the poets Eilean Ni Chuilleanain, Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill and Peter Sirr.

On the evidence of Friday night's performance there is no better man for the job than President Constantinescu, who fairly glowed during his warm, witty speech which moved many of the Romanians present to both laughter and tears. "He used the kind of words you never hear politicians use," said one ex-patriate. "He finished his speech by talking about mystery, and friendship - and love. If anything can redeem Romania, it is love; but it is a courageous thing, to say it aloud."