The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an annual and internationally renowned event, which typically attracts over one million visitors throughout its 2-week duration.  It is the largest cultural event in the US capital’s calendar and runs for a two week period in the last week of June and the first week of July.  The festival has been described as a ‘museum without walls’ and is devoted to grassroots cultural heritage.  It has also won academic commendation illustrated through the various awards it has won, including Academy, Emmy and Grammy Awards.

Regional Development Officer Michael Black and Youth Development Manager Barry Willis are representing Ulster Rugby as part of Northern Irelands participation in this prestigious event. During the festival Michael and Barry will be engaging with a vast audience, explaining the growth of rugby in our Province and the effect this has had on the wider community. In particular they will be focusing on grassroots rugby including the Community Rugby Programme and the success that it has had on the increased participation of ‘non traditional’ rugby playing schools, the growth of ladies rugby, the significance and popularity of the school and club game and how important this is for sustaining the professional end of the game.  They will also be involved in a rugby demonstration with American Rugby Club Severn River RFC.

Girls rugby will be one of the topics of conversation during the festival

Situated on the National Mall between Capitol Hill and the Washington monument, this festival occurs during the height of the US tourist season.  The participants of the festival are usually one US state, and two foreign regions/provinces/countries.  This year the participants are the state of Virginia, countries of the Mekong Delta and Northern Ireland.

Pictured above the Young Farmers Finals last summer, just one example of the many community projects the Ulster Branch are involved in

Over 120 participants from Northern Ireland have gone to Washington to help explain, demonstrate and celebrate Northern Ireland, to counter the out-dated stereotypes and celebrate the creativity, diversity and learning that symbolize Northern Ireland today.  As well as Rugby, the GAA, IFA and Children’s sports are also taking part in the festival plus a wide range of other cultural features.  Click here for more information on this year’s festival http://www.folklife.si.edu/festival/2007/Northern_Ireland/index.html

Watch this space for more updates from the guys in DC!!