A £3 million cultural centre beside the Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary was opened last night by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera.
The Sounds of History experience is an extension of the award-winning Bru Boru cultural centre affiliated to Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.
It consists of seven subterranean chambers telling the story of Ireland from ancient times. Visitors will meet some main characters of Ireland's story, including St Patrick and Brian Boru, and local personalities such as great Tipperary hurlers. The country's musical heritage also features.
"The unique civilisation of the Irish race: Christian devotion, monastic heritage, struggle for survival, pursuit of the arts, quest for independence and our cultural renaissance are recalled," the Minister said.
She praised the Bru Boru performing group which had brought traditional music "to the four corners of the Earth", including China, Australia and Oman which it had recently visited with the President, Mrs McAleese. Its performance on Australian television attracted 10 million viewers and prompted 180,000 calls for a repeat.
The Minister highlighted the "wonderful success story" of Comhaltas. "Generations of Irish men, women and children have tapped their feet to the lilt of Irish music produced by Comhaltas. We are proud of that ancient art form, which today enjoys such widespread popularity in the modern world.
"Comhaltas people have rightly been described as ambassadors of our country, communicating in a language that knows no boundaries and that has won us friends and admirers in areas as diverse as Canada, Japan, Hungary and Italy," she said.
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