Turning Sunderland Green

The University of Sunderland continually grows and Irish Studies, culture, music and as the dynamics of Sunderland grows to incoporate this growth of 'Irishness,' then is it a surprise that Sunderland is almost reaching out across the Irish sea, is it any wonder then that Ireland is doing the same.

One of Ireland's leading ambassadors travelled to Sunderland to celebrate the city's links with the emerald isle - and his first stop was the University of Sunderland's Media Centre. David Cooney is Ireland's Ambassador to the United Nations. During his visit to Wearside he toured the University's state-of-the-art Media Centre, the National Glass Centre and the Stadium of Light. Sunderland has close links with Ireland, both through Roy Keane's team at the Stadium of Light, and the University's annual Irish Conference and Festival, hosted by NEICN. The Festival, now in its sixth year, is the largest independent Irish conference in the UK and has grown so much in stature that it is now sponsored by the Irish Government.

Ambassador Cooney said: 'I was very impressed with the quality of the facilities at the University of Sunderland.' Professor Peter Fidler, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sunderland, said: 'We were delighted to welcome Ambassador Cooney to the university.'

Dr Alison O’Malley-Younger, director of the North East Irish Culture Network, added: 'We feel it particularly appropriate that the Ambassador visited the University and SAFC, two organisations which have a close partnership and are linked to the developing Irish culture in the region.'

The Irish Embassy has offered great support to our endeavours in promoting Irish culture in the North East.