ITTN’s Julia Labedz attended a special evening with Visit Portugal yesterday in Dalkey, held as part of the organisation’s presence at this year’s Dalkey Book Festival. Held at Corner Note on Coliemore Road in Dalkey, the evening brought trade and press together to celebrate Portugal’s culture, food and creative expression! The evening began with a speech by Carlos Pinto de Oliveira, Director at Visit Portugal Ireland, who welcomed the group and acknowledged the partnership between Visit Portugal and the Dalkey Book Festival. “Literary tourism is
one of the areas we are promoting, and it provides a strong opportunity for Visit Portugal to be part of the Dalkey Book Festival. Our aim is to show the Irish market a broader side of Portugal, beyond what visitors may already know, and to give guests a taste of the country through literature, gastronomy, traditional products and music.” The evening formed part of Visit Portugal’s wider programme during the Dalkey Book Festival, where Corner Note is acting as Portugal’s hub throughout the event. Under
the theme “Wine Pairs with Portugal”, the venue is hosting a series of curated moments designed to introduce visitors to Portugal through wine, heritage, cuisine, music and storytelling. Visit Portugal is also participating in two sessions within the official festival programme. The evening drew a strong turnout from both the Irish travel trade and media. Guests had the opportunity to mingle and enjoy some delicious Portuguese food and wines. A key highlight of the evening was a live performance by Portuguese singer Filipa Quintino, accompanied
by two musicians. The concert was a fantastic way to bring an authentic Portuguese musical element to the occasion and complemented the broader cultural focus of Visit Portugal’s participation in the festival! Throughout the evening, guests were also served a selection of Portuguese food and wines, with additional conversation around Portugal’s emphasis on gastronomy and wine tourism. This was a great accessible way to showcase regional flavours, while supporting Visit Portugal’s aim of presenting a different side of the destination. Visit Portugal’s programme at the
Dalkey Book Festival continues on Saturday, 20 June, with two official talks taking place at Dalkey Heritage Centre. The Heart of Portugal – Afonso Reis Cabral will run from 11.30am to 12.15pm, followed by Portugal: Europe’s Cultural Gem, featuring Afonso Reis Cabral, Madalena Vidigal and Susana Cereja, from 12.30pm to 1.15pm. The sessions will examine Portugal’s literary voice, cultural identity and creative heritage, offering further insight into the country’s relationship with storytelling, tradition and contemporary culture. A private reception will follow at Corner Note from
1.30pm to 2.30pm, hosted in the presence of the Portuguese Ambassador and invited guests, with Portuguese wines and gastronomy served in an informal setting. Visit Portugal’s presence at the Dalkey Book Festival highlights the close relationship between travel, culture and storytelling, using the festival platform to introduce Ireland-based audiences to Portugal’s heritage, creative expression and distinctive culinary traditions. ITTN’s Julia Labedz would like to thank Visit Portugal for the invitation and for hosting an engaging evening celebrating Portuguese culture in Dublin!
Visit Portugal, Dalkey Book Festival, Corner Note, Portuguese cultural evening, wine pairs with Portugal, Carlos Pinto de Oliveira, Filipa Quintino, Afonso Reis Cabral, Madalena Vidigal, Susana Cereja, Portuguese Ambassador, literary tourism