We previously reported the visit to China in March by members of two Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs in the north of Ireland, St Johns GAA and Naomh Cholmaín Droím an Easa Drumaness GAC, led by Sinn Féin Member of Parliament for South Down, Chris Hazzard.
Following this very successful visit, the Chinese Consul General in Belfast, Li Nan organised a friendship gathering with Chris and members of the two clubs on June 12.
Li emphasised that culture and sports help bring people closer and foster mutual understanding. He expressed the hope that club members would actively serve as inheritors of the friendship between China and Northern Ireland, promoters of friendly cooperation, and builders of shared development.
Chris Hazzard shared his experiences from visiting China and expressed his desire to further expand dialogue, cooperation, and exchanges in areas such as culture, education, and sports. Club members also took turns sharing their thoughts and reflections from their time in China.
Meanwhile, on June 16, at the invitation of the James Joyce Centre, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Zhao Xiyuan attended the Bloomsday celebration at Belvedere College S.J. in Dublin.
Bloomsday is an annual celebration held on June 16 to commemorate James Joyce’s novel Ulysses, which is set on that specific date in 1904. It is named after the novel’s central character, Leopold Bloom. Joyce’s experience studying at the Belvedere College informed much of the writing of the novel. In 2012, President Xi Jinping, then Vice President of China, visited the Confucius Classroom at Belvedere College.
With the help of the Chinese Embassy in Ireland, the three Chinese versions of Ulysses that have been published, have been donated to the National Library of Ireland, the James Joyce Centre and the Museum of Literature Ireland for their collections.
Ulysses is widely considered to be one of the most complex and difficult works of world literature to translate. Translation into Chinese required many years of devoted effort and painstaking work. This comparative study of the three Chinese versions was published by the James Joyce Society of Korea.
The following articles were originally published on the websites of the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast and the Chinese Embassy in Ireland and are republished here from that of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Chinese Consulate General in Belfast Holds GAA Club Visit to China Sharing Session and Consulate General Open Day
June 14 (MFA) — On 12 June, the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast hosted a sharing session following the GAA Club’s visit to China and the Consulate’s Open Day. Consul General Mr. Li Nan attended and delivered a speech. Over 50 guests participated in the event, including Mr. Christopher Hazzard MP; the President and members of Drumaness and St John’s Club; and Professor Yu Xiang, Vice President of Hubei Normal University.
Consul General Li welcomed all guests to the Consulate and highlighted China’s latest achievements in economic and social development. He noted that Chinese-style modernization is progressing steadily, and a prosperous, open, and friendly China is creating new opportunities for the world. Mr. Li emphasized that culture and sports help bring people closer and foster mutual understanding. He expressed hope that club members would actively serve as inheritors of the friendship between China and Northern Ireland, promoters of friendly cooperation, and builders of shared development.
Mr. Hazzard shared his experiences from visiting China and expressed his desire to further expand dialogue, cooperation, and exchanges in areas such as culture, education, and sports. Club members also took turns sharing their thoughts and reflections from their time in China. The atmosphere was warm and engaging.
Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Zhao Xiyuan Attends the Bloomsday Celebration
June 18 (MFA) — On June 16th, at the invitation of the James Joyce Centre, Ambassador Zhao Xiyuan and Madam Li Yi, together with ambassadors from other countries to Ireland and officials from Dublin, attended the Bloomsday celebration at Belvedere College S.J. in Dublin.
Bloomsday is an annual celebration held on June 16th to commemorate James Joyce’s novel Ulysses, which is set on that specific date in 1904. It is named after the novel’s central character, Leopold Bloom. Joyce’s studying experience at the Belvedere College was applied many times in his writings. In 2012, President Xi Jinping, then Vice President of China, visited the Confucius Classroom at Belvedere College.
Every June 16th, literature lovers hold various festivities in Dublin, Ireland, and elsewhere including China, through readings, performances, and re-enactments of scenes from the book, often with participants dressed in Edwardian attire. With the coordination of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ireland, the three Chinese versions of Ulysses that have been published, were donated to the National Library of Ireland, the James Joyce Centre and the Museum of Literature Ireland for collection.
