The €1.3 million in funding will support international job opportunities for Irish artists and will lead to increased audiences for Irish artists worldwide. In the first half of 2014, Culture Ireland's programme reached audiences of over 2.5 million and created over 6,000 employment days for Irish artists.

Speaking today Minister Humphreys said: "There will be a particular focus on Irish cultural events around the world over the course of the 2015 St. Patrick's Day period, which provides an unrivalled opportunity to showcase the best of Irish arts and culture to an overseas audience. Working closely with State agencies, such as Tourism Ireland, and our network of Embassies, we are actively promoting Irish culture and focussing international attention on Ireland as a place to come to visit or do business.

"Through recent visits to New Orleans and Atlanta, as part of the International Famine Commemoration, I have seen firsthand how highly Irish culture and art is valued overseas. Culture Ireland plays a vital role in providing an international platform for Irish artists. This not only benefits the artists involved, it also greatly enhances our reputation abroad.

"Culture Ireland provides annual support for Ireland's two key overseas cultural centres; the Irish Arts Centre, New York and Centre Culturel Paris. As well as maintaining important connections to the Diaspora, these centres help to develop further opportunities for Irish artists. 

"Annual support is also being given to Ireland Literature Exchange to facilitate the translation of Irish writers into other languages and to promote Irish writing at international book fairs. Financial support for the Irish Film Institute International will also facilitate the promotion of Irish film globally at key film festivals.

"A range of other projects will be supported, including productions by Irish theatre companies and major tours by Irish musicians."

Irish theatre companies will be presenting work in many venues spread worldwide between London and Australia, including recent works such as the Corn Exchange production of Eimear Mc Bride's 'A Girl is a Half Formed Thing' and a Beckett season at the Barbican, London.

Other projects supported include major tours of the US, Asia and Europe by Irish musicians. The Sharon Shannon Band will travel to Australia performing in Perth, Melbourne, Hobart, Port Fairy, and also in Beijing and Shanghai, over the St Patrick's Day period while in Europe, Moxie will perform at the 5th Guinness Celtic Spring Caravan Tour in cities across Austria, Switzerland and Italy during March.

Ireland's most recent success on the international arena The Gloaming  will tour the UK, Australia and New Zealand and  Róisín O will, for the first time, headline a tour of Germany . In Russia, the 'Irish Week in Moscow' will showcase the best of Irish film and music.

For a full list of the Culture Ireland 2015 programme, please view here:

http://www.cultureireland.ie/applications/index.php?r=reports/outcomeGrant&year=2014&program_id=11