This Lunar New Year this year is the Year of the Pig. In traditional Chinese lore they are a sign of wealth, and their cutie round faces are a sign of good fortune as well. Bring on the Year of the Pig so!

I attended The Spring Festival Gala Ireland held in the glamorous Convention Centre Dublin where I was treated to an evening of Chinese music, dance, and a traditional ceremony.

It was so beautiful and filled with colourful dresses and a full quartet supported by a few local acts. The event opened with a song celebrating the new year from the local Confucius Youth Choir supported by Clare Murray, they sang well and were adorable to boot!

The next act was the cheerful girls from the Chinese Irish Cultural Academy of Dance who amazed with a fan dance inspired by the book 100 Family Names. Each girl had a blue and yellow smock and a red fan – red is seen as a lucky colour! Next, all the way from Hubei province, was the state-owned Opera and Dance Drama Theatre.

I was thrilled that there was also a few people representing the Beijing Opera – I never imagined that I would have the chance to see anything from such a famous place.

Overall, I thought it was a wonderful evening and enjoyed every minute of it. Next year is the Year of the Rat, so better start planning to get your tickets!

The event was sponsored by the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland – and is definitely worth a watch if you’re looking for a good night out filled with culture and fun!

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