Artists And scholars Answer Ireland's Call

U2 frontman Bono is helping President Michael D Higgins celebrate Irish culture ahead of St Patrick's Day.

On St. Patrick's Day, in partnership with RTÉ and The Gathering Ireland 2013, President Higgins is calling on all Irish people worldwide to share with him a celebration of an Irish culture through words and music and  Irish creativity

The special programme features President Higgins in conversation with Bono, Séamus Heaney, Druid Theatre's Garry Hynes and playwright Tom Murphy and Christy Moore.

There are music performances from Steve Cooney, Glen Hansard, Lisa Hannigan, Martin Hayes, Imelda May, Christy Moore, Róisín O, Iarla O Lionaird, Peadar O Riada, David Power and The Script.

The programme was recorded over four days last month, taking place around the demands of the President's diary, speaking about the project, President Higgins expressed his gratitude to the artists for participating.

"I am very grateful to all the artists who responded so positively to my invitation to be part of this worldwide call to Irish people to celebrate an Irishness of which we can all be proud," he said. "Throughout our history, literature, music and art have been a source of great strength, have helped us cope with adversity, have not only soothed the loss which they described so well but also opened the space for new possibilities of renewal and change and created joy.

"I hope the programme will encourage Irish people everywhere to engage with the valuable resource that is our culture, to look to our creative possibilities and to project our Irishness into the world in the positive way that has been the achievement of our artists and cultural workers."

'Glaoch – The President's Call' will be broadcast worldwide at 9.30pm on St Patrick's Day, on RTE.ie, RTE News Now and RTE YouTube.

It will then be repeated on RTE One, RTE Two and RTE Radio 1 Extra on March 18.

Source: Various / DannyODonoghue.Net