For the first time, La Fête de la Bastille will be celebrated in Dublin where Smithfield will be filled with blue, white and red flags, the aroma of freshly baked French bread and joie de vivre.
The Bastille Day events, which start tomorrow, will be held as part of the Robert Emmet bicentenary commemorations and the 1803 Rising, as well as the Liberties Emmet 200 Festival.
What has Robert Emmet got to do with Bastille Day? The question was answered yesterday at a reception to announce the festival at the Mansion House.
The 1803 Rising took place on July 23rd but the authorities were alerted to the possibility of unrest when a large gathering of United Irishmen celebrated Bastille Day on July 14th on Dublin's Coal Quay and Smock Alley, and a major riot followed, explained Mr Brian Cleary, vice-chairman of the Robert Emmet Association.
"Because of the significance of this day and because of the French support for the ideals of Emmet and the United Irishmen, we decided that it should play a major role in our calendar of events for the bicentenary year," he said.
At the Mansion House was the new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Royston Brady, and the French ambassador to Ireland, Mr Gabriel de Bellescize.
The Lord Mayor, at his first official function since taking office, praised the association for organising the celebration with the French embassy, the Liberties Festival and Dublin City Council.
"It would be a fine legacy of the Robert Emmet bicentenary if Bastille Day became an annual event in the Dublin calendar."
Starting tomorrow, there will be a French market in Smithfield, with up to 90 traders selling a variety of products including freshly baked French bread and pastries, lace, leather goods, pottery, chocolate, and cooked foods.
The market will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Saturday.
Street theatre, a murder mystery evening, cookery demonstrations, majorettes, music and dance will take place all day Saturday and Sunday.
Wandering musicians and accordion players will perform 18th century music while children will be able to enjoy face painters, spider obstacles, balloon modellers, slides and festival activities.
On Sunday there will be a parade of more than 500 pike people through the city from Smithfield to the Liberties, starting at 3 p.m. A wreath will be laid at St Catherine's Church in Robert Emmet's memory en route to St Patrick's Cathedral, where an ecumenical service will begin at 5 p.m.