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in Sino-Irish Tourism & Culture

ISSUE #2025.11

Central China's first ever GAA Club!

Asia's newest GAA Club has been established in the heart of central China, the Hubei Harps. The Club's first training session, held in Wuhan, was a huge success, with players from many different countries trying Gaelic Games for the first time.

Ireland's Deputy Ambassador to China, Mr.Barry Mulligan came down from Beijing to attend the Club's launch and registration evening.

Founding member and Club Chairperson Sean Cunningham, formerly the North Asia Officer for the GAA, stated "We warmly welcome everyone who would like to give Ireland's native sports a try. With no Clubs yet established in surrounding provinces, such as Henan and Hunan, we would also encourage anyone who is interested living there, to come and join our diverse, vibrant and inclusive Club!"

Ireland–China Early Childhood Exchange in Dublin

A delegation from the China Welfare Institute Kindergarten, an institution with strong ties to the Soong Ching Ling Foundation, recently visited Dublin as part of an important step in international early‑years collaboration. The group engaged with several Irish early childhood settings, including An Corsa and Safari, and met with Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland, to discuss pedagogy, quality standards, and future possibilities for study visits and joint projects between Irish and Chinese early childhood education providers.

Record-Breaking Success: Sino-Irish Forum at GSIS 2025 Changsha

Community Corner: Paddy O’Shea’s Beijing – 18th Anniversary!

Raise a glass to one of Beijing’s most beloved cultural anchors – Paddy O’Shea’s Irish Pub! On Friday, December 5th, Paddy O’Shea’s celebrates its remarkable 18th anniversary, making it one of the city’s longest-lasting and most iconic pubs.

Date: Friday, December 5th

Venue: Paddy O’Shea’s, Dongzhimenwai Dajie, No. 28, Beijing

Irish Chamber Christmas Party – Shanghai

Ring in the festive season with the Irish Chamber of Commerce in China at their annual Christmas Party in Shanghai. The celebration will take place on Wednesday, 17th December at 7:30 pm in Abbey Road, 3 Taojiang Lu, Shanghai.

It’s a great opportunity for Irish and international professionals to connect, relax, and celebrate the end of a landmark year for Ireland–China relations. To join, simply scan the QR code on the event poster to register.

Upcoming: Yangluo Port International ICH “New Year Market Festival” 

From 16–18 January 2026, Yangluo Port, Hubei Province will host the International Intangible Cultural Heritage “New Year Market Festival”, bringing together heritage practitioners, artisans, and performers from across China and abroad.

The three‑day festival will feature interactive craft demonstrations, traditional New Year foods, and cultural performances along the Yangtze waterfront—creating a vibrant platform for cultural exchange, tourism promotion, and participation by international ICH partners. If you are interested in taking part or exhibiting Irish food, drink, handcrafts, or other forms of Irish intangible cultural heritage, please contact us for further details.

New Youth Initiative: China–Ireland Culture & Technology Exchange Programme

A new China–Ireland Youth Culture and Technology Exchange Programme is being planned for Shanghai in June 2026. The ten‑day programme will bring Irish and Chinese young people together for hands‑on “culture + technology” learning, including AI and 3D‑printing workshops, visits to museums and heritage sites, and field research on sustainable cities and living intangible cultural heritage.

If your school, youth group, or organisation is interested in taking part—or if you are an educator, teacher, or facilitator who would like to be involved in co‑designing activities or accompanying a group—please contact us at info@cits.ie for further details.

ICCTA is currently planning its programme of 2026 events in China, including cultural showcases, business forums, and tourism promotion activities in Beijing, Shanghai, Hubei, Hainan and other key regions. If you are interested in participating, collaborating, or having your project, product, or destination featured and included in our China initiatives, please get in touch with us.