Estonia and Ireland

30.11.2011

Ireland (Éire) recognised the Republic of Estonia on 27 August 1991 and diplomatic relations were established on 10 September 1991.

Ireland's Ambassador to Estonia is Peter McIvor (as of 25 August 2010) and Estonia's Ambassador to Ireland is Mait Martinson (as of 14 September 2010).

Previously, Estonia was represented in Ireland by Ambassador Riivo Sinijärv (1994-1995), Ambassador Raul Mälk (1996-2003), Ambassador Simmu Tiik (2003-2006), Ambassador Andre Pung (2006-2010), Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Jüri Seilenthal (1997-1999), Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Triin Parts (1999-2002) and Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Krista Kilvet (2002-2003).

On 3 December 1991 Paul D. Dempsey, residing in Stockholm, was accredited as Ireland's first ambassador to Estonia. He was succeeded by Dáithí O'Ceallaigh (1995-1998) and Gearóid Ó Broin (1999–2001), both residing in Helsinki. The first ambassador to reside in Tallinn was Sean Farrell (2001-2004).

From 1927-1931 the honorary consul of the Republic of Estonia in Dublin was Richard J. Kelly, from 1937-1938 it was Thomas Franklin Laurie, and from 1938-1960 the role was fulfilled by John McEvoy.
As of 22 November 2010 the Estonian Embassy in Dublin has been working from a fully functioning office building located on Dublin’s main business and political streets. In addition to being more accessible to citizens and guests, it is hoped that the new location will provide a better sense of the various tides in Irish society. The representations of many other countries have also started following the example of the practical Nordic countries.

Visits

In September 2009 the rectors of six public universities in Estonia visited Ireland within the framework of the ESF Primus programme.

Agreements

• Agreement on Visa Free Travel (came into force 1 May 1996);
• Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and for the Prevention of Tax Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital (came into force 29 December 1998);
• Agreement on the exchange of cultural experts (signed 16 Apr 1999).

Economic Relations

TRADE

According to the data of Statistics Estonia, in 2010 trade with Ireland made up about 0.2% of total trade. About 40% of export was made up of paper pulp and products made from it, 20% of wood and wood products, and the share of other manufactured goods was about 28%. Among imports, 46% were machinery and equipment, 37% chemical products, and plastic and rubber products about 6%.
In terms of total trade turnover, Ireland was in the 32nd position among Estonia’s trade partners in 2010. In 2010 the total trade turnover between the countries was 42.9 million euros, though the balance was negative for Estonia by 20.5 million euros.

In 2009 Ireland was Estonia’s 33rd trade partner with a total turnover of 33.1 million EUR, of which export made up 9.4 million EUR and import 23.6 million EUR. The trade balance was therefore a negative 14.2 million EUR. In Estonia’s total trade turnover, trade with Ireland made up 0.2%.

All economic figures originate from the Statistical Office of Estonia

INVESTMENTS

Irish investments in Estonia have increased compared to previous years. According to the Bank of Estonia, as of 31 December 2010 Irish companies had made investments totalling 96.1 million euros in value in Estonia, which makes up 0.8% of all foreign investments in Estonia. Most Irish investments were made in wholesale and retail trade, agriculture, and wood processing. As of the same date, Estonian companies had invested 938 thousand euros in Ireland. The largest Irish investments have been made in real estate (within the ProKapital Group); other companies with Irish involvement are QBE Insurance Estonia, Balcas Estonia, and Myles EStamp. The most investments have been made in agriculture and forestry; real estate, professional, research and technical activities as well as administration; and wholesale and retail trade. Investments on a smaller scale have been made in construction, financial and insurance activity, and administration and assistance activities.

Companies with the largest Irish ownership (millions of EUR):

TOURISM

The Irish airline Ryanair opened a direct flight route between Tallinn and Dublin on 14 December 2010. Ryanair flies between Tallinn and Dublin three times a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. On weekday mornings Ryanair carries passengers to Tallinn and in the afternoon is the flight from Tallinn to Dublin. On the weekend the flight departs for Estonia in the afternoon and returns to Dublin at night.

Culture and Education

An Agreement on Cultural Exchanges was signed between Estonia and Ireland in April 1999. Tartu University has good co-operation ties with the oldest university in Ireland, Trinity College. The EU’s Erasmus programme helps to maintain ties between educational institutions.

LITERATURE

In 2001, translator Jaak Rähesoo, whose translations of James Joyce's “Dubliners”, “Exiles”, and “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” were released the same year, was in Ireland within the framework of the cultural exchange programme. In 2002, editor-in-chief of Varrak publishing house Krista Kaer lived in Ireland as well as part of the same programme. In April 2004, the International literature festival Cuirt was held in Galway where the guest of honour was the Estonian writer Jaan Kaplinski. In July 2004, Andres Ehin’s Haiku was translated into Irish and was presented in Dublin.

A 2009 milestone in cultural relations was the publishing of the first tri-lingual Estonian-English-Irish collection of poetry. The trilingual version of Kristiina Ehin’s “Põletades pimedust” was introduced in Dublin in November. In October an Estonian language day took place for the first time in Ireland in co-operation with the Estonian Mother Tongue Society and the Ministry of Education and Research.

ART

In the summer of 2000, the first exhibition of an Estonian artist took place in Northern Ireland. Epp Maria Kokamägi's personal exhibition was opened in June in the Emer gallery in Belfast. In April, the works of glass artist Ivo Lill were exhibited in the Guinness Gallery in Dublin.

In March 2004, the exhibition "New Frontiers" was opened in the Irish National Art Gallery, where 6 works from the Estonian Art Gallery were on display: Konrad Mägi "Vilsandi motiiv" (Vilsandi Motif) 1913-1914, Arnold Akberg "Daam lapsega" (Lady with Child) 1926, Johannes Greenberg "Naine maskidega" (Woman with Masks) 1935, Andrus Johan "Köögis" (In the Kitchen) 1935, Kristjan Raud "Ohverdamine" (Sacrificing) 1935, Aleksander Vardi "Alasti suvel" (Naked in Summer) 1939.

In April 2004, Killu Sukmit and Mari Laanemets's video "Route 66" was shown at the Museum of Modern Art in Galway. In May 2004, a joint EU member state sculpture, "Biodiversity Monument", was opened in the courtyard of the Malahide Castle. The monument depicts the Estonian national bird the swallow.

In November 2004, Kylli K. Kaats participated in the Dublin International Darklights festival with the video "AVIFAUNA".

In January 2005, the Estonian Jewellers group FFFF’s exhibition at Cork Vision Centre helped open the Cultural Capital 2005 in that Irish city. In March 2005, Ene-Liis Semper and Mark Raidpere's exhibition was opened in Dublin's Temple Bar Gallery.

In June 2006, in co-operation with the Japanese Embassy, Ann Tenno's photo exhibition "Japanese Garden" took place at Oscar Wilde's house in Dublin.

From 30 October to 11 November 2006, Aet Kuuskemaa's lithography exhibition about Tallinn and Endel Grensmann's aerial photography exhibition "Bird's-eye View of Estonia" were open to the public at the Dublin Municipal Building.

During the president's state visit in April 2008, an exhibit was opened with the help of the Museum of Estonian Architecture entitled "History Reflected in Architecture". The exhibit is tied to the events in honour of Estonia's anniversary year, as is the history museum exhibit "Estonia's own nation. Birth. Rebirth". Leonhard Lapin's catalogue exhibit "Empty room" is scheduled to be shown in October.

MUSIC

In August 1988, various Irish musicians toured Estonia. This was followed by a concert tour by Estonian musicians in Ireland in November 1989. Irish folk music groups have performed at every Viljandi Folk Music Festival and Estonian folk musicians have performed at several festivals in Ireland. In 1999 and 2000, the Estonian folk dance group Kandali participated in the Kildare International Folk Arts Festival and in several other festivals. A Irish bagpipe sextet performed at the Baltica festival in 2001 in Estonia.

In June 2000, the Irish National Symphony Orchestra gave a concert with the principal conductor of Tartu's Vanemuine Theatre, Mihkel Kütson. In May, Estonian pianist Marko Martin participated in the Dublin International Piano Competition.

In April 2001, Arvo Pärt's "Passio" was performed in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.

From 30 Oct - 2 Nov 2006, the concerts of the Johanson siblings took place. They performed at Gobblestone Pub in Dublin and in O`Riada Hall at Cork University.

Many Estonian choirs have participated in the Cork choir festival, and conductors Eri Klas and Paul Mägi have worked with Irish orchestras.

Rising young pianist Sten Lassmann was the opening act for Cork's yearly concert series "Our mEUsical partners" on 12 July 2007. The programme included works by Heino Eller (Sonata nr 2 and Toccata B minor). The most important event of the year in Ireland was the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir concert tour from 21-24 September 2007. The choir, conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste, gave four concerts at various locations in Ireland.

The Irish National Chamber Choir, under the direction of Paul Hillier, performed pieces by Arvo Pärt and Toivo Tulev within the framewok of the concert series "Portraits 2007".

Estonia's cultural activities in Ireland were very diverse in 2008, since in addition to the usual cultural contacts, special events were held in honour of the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. One could say that February 2008 in Ireland was the month dedicated to Arvo Pärt. The world premiere of Arvo Pärt's composition "The Deer's Cry" took place on 13-14 February. The piece was commissioned by the Louth Contemporary Music Society and was inspired by the text on St. Patrick's breastplate. Within the framework of the same event, Pärt's instrumental pieces "Fratres", "Spiegel im Spiegel", and "Für Alina" were also performed. In addition, the annual RTE Living Music festival that took place from 15-17 February was entirely dedicated to Arvo Pärt. The opening notes of the festival were sounded in the National Concert Hall by the RTE Philharmonic Choir under the direction of Tõnu Kaljuste; they performed "Lamentante", "Berliner Messe", and "Credo". During the three-day festival, the works of Arvo Pärt were performed during many concerts in Dublin's largest concert halls. The composer himself was there, and it was possible for people to attend workshops within the framework of the festival. In co-operation with the festival co-ordinators and in honour of Estonia's 90th anniversary, the exhibit on Arvo Pärt entitled "Known and unknown" was displayed in Dublin simultaneously with the festival. The exhibit is a product of the Estonian Theatre and Music Museum. A concert entitled "Eesti Keeled" was a worthy ending to the anniversary year.

In 2009 Irish people had the opportunity to become acquainted with the exhibit compiled by the Estonian Theatre and Music Museum entitled “Arvo Pärt—Known and Unknown”.

THEATRE, CINEMA, DANCE

The repertoires of Estonian theatres have long included the plays of Brian Friel and Martin McDonagh: Friel's "Aristocrats" at the Estonian Drama Theatre, McDonagh's "Connemara", "The Lonely West" at the Rakvere Theatre, "The Miserable One of Inishmaan" at the Tallinn City Theatre and "The Beauty Queen of the Mountains" at the Vanemuine Theatre. In 2003, McDonagh's play "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" had its premiere at the Estonian Drama Theatre and Judy Upton's play "Ashes and Sand", staged by the young Irish producer Annabelle Comyn had its debut at the Estonian State Puppet Theatre.

Irish films have been shown at the Black Nights Film Festival. The Irish film "The Mighty Celt" was shown at the 9th festival. A special program of the films of Neil Jordan, the most renowned Irish film maker was conducted at the 10th festival. In addition, "The Traveller Girl", a documentary and "The Wind That Shakes the Barley", a film about the Irish War of Independence, made in co-operation with other countries participated at the festival.

In April 2004, the screening of "Names in Marble" in Galway was well received by the Irish public (the film was also screened in Cork).

The international Jameson Film Festival took place in Dublin in February 2008, which included the Estonian films "Sügisball" and "Klass". In April, Imbi Paju's film "Tõrjutud mälestused" ("Memories denied") will make its premiere in Ireland.

OTHER

In 1993, the first Conference of Culture of Estonia, Ireland and Finland took place in Tallinn. The second conference "Culture and State", organised by the three countries, took place in Maynooth, Ireland in 1995 and was opened by Irish President Mary Robinson. The Estonian Irish Centre (ISC) at the Estonian Humanitarian Institute is planning a third joint conference titled "The Sense of Place" in the near future.

In October 1995, in co-operation with the Irish Embassy in Helsinki and the British Council, the Irish Culture Week took place in Tallinn, where writers, scholars, and musicians from Ireland and Northern Ireland performed. In addition, a film programme consisting of works by renowned Irish producers was shown.

THE CULTURAL PROGRAMME OF THE EU PRESIDENCY

In connection with the Irish presidency of the EU from April-May 2004, several different cultural events took place in Estonia, among them the Irish Films Week. In the framework of the Estonian Music Days, the Irish modern music group Crash Ensemble performed, the concerts of the well-known Irish pianist Finghin Collins were held in different Estonian towns and the concerts of the Estonian Symphony Orchestra together with Irish pianist Barry Douglas took place.

In May 2004, the weekend cultural event "Our Dublin" took place in the Canute Guild Hall. The programme included performances, films and concerts. This was one of the EU Presidency Ireland's largest cultural events in Estonia. Estonians were able to watch a dance show, a documentary or attend two original concerts.

THE ESTONIAN CULTURAL PROGRAMME IN IRELAND IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACCESSION OF ESTONIA TO THE EU

On 24 April 2004, the twin sculpture of Eduard Vilde and Oscar Wilde was opened in the city centre of Galway. The sculpture was a present from Estonia to Ireland in connection with its accession to the European Union.

On 30 April and 1 May 2004, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra performed. They were conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste in Galway and Dublin. On 1 May 2004, Hedvig Hanson participated with her ensemble at the Bray jazz festival. On the outskirts of the Merrion park in the framework of the Day of Welcomes the band Kukerpillid gave a concert.