2025 Chinese New Year Celebration Held at UCD Confucius Institute

On the evening of February 12th, under the first full moon of the Year of the Snake, the 2025 Chinese New Year celebration was held at UCD Confucius Institute. The event added a rich festive atmosphere to welcome the arrival of the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

Distinguished guests included His Excellency Zhao Xiyuan, the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland; Professor Dolores O’Riordan, Vice President for Global Engagement at UCD; Ms Triona McCormack, Vice President for Strategy and External Engagement at UCD, Mr Paul Kavanagh, the former Irish Ambassador to China, Dr Zhu Xikun, the First Secretory for Education Section at Chinese Embassy.  The event attracted a diverse audience, including members of the Irish and local Chinese communities, students, and faculty, all gathered to celebrate this traditional Chinese festival.

The event featured a combination of indoor and outdoor activities. Inside the Confucius Institute building, a spectacular cultural performance was held, while outside the building  hosted a variety of festive activities, including lantern exhibition, dragon and lion dances, flam show, and an Asian food market. These activities provided participants with an immersive cultural experience.

The festive atmosphere was electric. The Institute building was adorned with dazzling lights, reflecting beautifully on the lake where flam show took place. Many visitors paused to admire the exquisite lantern displays on the lakeside lawn, featuring themes such as rabbits, pandas, and tigers. The bustling Asian food stalls attracted long lines, with attendees savoring a variety of authentic delicacies. The lively dragon and lion dances frequently interacted with the audience, delivering heartfelt festive blessings to participants from diverse cultural and language backgrounds.

"Lanterns illuminate the city under the full moon, and joyous songs and laughter celebrate the new spring." The Lantern Festival not only symbolizes reunion and beauty but also ignites hope for the future. This Spring Festival celebration, hosted by the UCD  Confucius Institute, has been held for 18 years, making it the largest Chinese New Year event in Ireland. It brings a deep sense of home to the Chinese community in Ireland while allowing the Irish public to experience the profound charm of traditional Chinese culture.