Kaohsiung choir performs in Ireland under Taiwan Culture in Europe

London, Aug. 18 (CNA) This year's Taiwan Culture in Europe initiative, which promotes Taiwanese arts and culture across the continent, made its latest stop in Dublin over the weekend when the Kaohsiung-based Taiwan Chorus performed there.

The choir held a concert at a church in the Irish capital on Aug. 15, performing more than 10 Taiwanese songs, including "The Song of Alishan" (阿里山之歌), "The Maiden of Malan" (馬蘭姑娘) and "Tian Mi Mi" (甜蜜蜜).

The performance was led by choir director Wu Hung-chang (吳宏璋), who is trained both as a tenor and a choral conductor, with pianist Chen I-chen (陳怡真) accompanying the choir.

According to Taiwan's representative office in Ireland, the concert attracted nearly 170 people, including former Irish senator Gerry Horkan.

Speaking at the event, Taiwan's Representative to Ireland Tang Diann-wen (唐殿文) said Taiwan and Ireland share a commitment to freedom and democracy and have witnessed increasingly close exchanges in recent years.

Cultural events such as the choir's performance help foster mutual understanding and strengthen ties between the two sides, Tang said.

Launched in 2025 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture, Taiwan Culture in Europe is an annual program that features cultural and artistic events across Europe.

This year's program focuses on human rights advocacy and cultural promotion, with events being held in more than 10 European countries.

The initiative includes a Taiwan human rights film tour, participation in the Queer East Festival in the United Kingdom, the traveling Taiwan Day series, and screenings at Poland's WATCH DOCS International Human Rights Film Festival.