Tourism Ireland Partners with Lyric Theatre and Hillsborough Castle to Bring Agreement Drama to New York

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Tourism Ireland, in collaboration with the Lyric Theatre in Belfast and Hillsborough Castle, is bringing the acclaimed drama ‘Agreement’ to New York. The production will be showcased at the Irish Arts Center (IAC) starting from Thursday, April 11th, until May 12th.

This partnership is an exciting initiative aimed at highlighting Northern Ireland as an exceptional tourist destination within the crucial US market. It seeks to illuminate the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage, which has long been a wellspring of inspiration for artists, actors, and storytellers across generations. This effort follows Tourism Ireland’s successful collaboration with the Lyric Theatre in 2023, featuring the punk rock musical ‘Good Vibrations’ during a five-week run at the IAC during the summer.

Towards the end of April, Tourism Ireland plans to extend invitations to prominent travel trade representatives and journalists based in New York for a special performance of ‘Agreement.’ Before the show, attendees will delve into the vibrant history and culture of Belfast and Northern Ireland, showcasing the allure for American travelers. Additionally, they will be introduced to Hillsborough Castle and its upcoming American Shared History Tour, slated to launch in July. Promotion for this new tour will encompass email marketing, social media promotions, and digital campaigns on platforms like IrishCentral and the Irish Arts Center’s website, spotlighting Northern Ireland as a premier destination for cultural and heritage experiences.

Helen McGorman, Tourism Ireland’s Head of Stakeholder Engagement for Northern Ireland, said: “Tourism Ireland is delighted to support this production of ‘Agreement’ running in New York this spring, celebrating not only this important historic period but also Northern Ireland’s rich arts and culture scene. 

“Our partnership with the Lyric Theatre and Hillsborough Castle is another excellent opportunity to inspire American holidaymakers to visit Northern Ireland this year. The United States remains an extremely important market for tourism to Northern Ireland and the island – and arts and culture are important elements of our overall tourism offering and a key message in Tourism Ireland’s promotions.”

Jimmy Fay, Executive Producer of the Lyric Theatre, added:“The Lyric Theatre is thrilled to partner with Tourism Ireland to support our production of ‘Agreement’ to tour to the Irish Arts Center, NYC. This is not only a fantastic opportunity to showcase the immense creative talent from Northern Ireland but also a unique opportunity to tell an important and significant cultural and historical story from here. Over the past 25 years, Lyric has had its own part to play in the story and journey of the Good Friday Agreement and it is fitting that this powerful production is being shared with international audiences. We are very grateful to Tourism Ireland and all our funders for their support in helping us get there.”

Laura McCorry, Head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, said: “Hillsborough Castle has long been a political retreat in Northern Ireland – a place that has inspired worlds and minds to meet. The Castle has repeatedly played a central role in important political and peace negotiations, including those that led to the Good Friday Agreement. We know that visitors to the Castle are keen to learn more about this history, so we are delighted to launch a new American Shared History tour later this summer that will unpack the triagonal relationship that exists between the USA, UK and Ireland. Our visitors will walk in the footsteps of presidents, politicians and peacemakers, experiencing our shared history, as it was shaped, inside Hillsborough Castle.”