By Margot Garnier

Ireland’s vibrant Hungarian community organised their Hungarian Culture Days festival for the fourth year running last month.

Taking place over four days from 17-20 September in venues throughout the capital, the festival kicked off with an intercultural opening gala at the Smock Alley Theatre.

Artistic performances, songs and music, folk dances, speeches and an exhibition that highlights the friendship between Ireland and Hungary with paintings and sculptures entertained the 300 guests in attendance.

“Hungarian Culture Days has several purposes,” said Ingrid Biri, one of the organisers. “The first one is to gather the Hungarian people together, the second one is to show the presence of Hungarian companies in the business life of Ireland but also enhance cultural exchange between Hungarian communities and the Irish public. Finally, its aim is to represent Hungarian charity organisations.”

This year’s festival included a day of theatre and folk dance to coincide with the annual Culture Night on Friday 18 September, and came to a close on the Sunday with a ‘Family Harvest Day’ that featured puppet performances and a competition for homemade cakes.