The hugely popular Irish Week in Moscow included the Moscow Irish Film Festival.

The Lord Mayor attended a prestigious recital in her honour of the music of the 19th century Irish composer John Field. The Lord Mayor said “Field is an iconic cultural figure. A Dubliner, he left a lasting imprint on Russian music. I was delighted in Moscow to launch a new book entitled “John Field: A Russian Irish Man” which has just been published by the Irish Embassy in Moscow”.

The visit of the Lord Mayor came in advance of a major Trade Mission to Russia on 18 – 21 May which will be led by Deputy Prime Minister, Mary Coughlin. Her delegation included the Chief Executive of Dublin Tourism, Frank McGee and Debbie Deegan, the founder of To Russia With Love charity which supports Russian orphanages.

After the Parade in Moscow the delegation accompaniesd by Irish Ambassador Justin Harmon and key diplomats from the Moscow Embassy travelled to St Petersburg at the invitation of the city government