Monaghan and Finland share Cultúr 2026 celebrations

Monaghan’s special partnership with Finland inspires an autumn of storytelling, music, literature, film and cultural exchange across the county, marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

As Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union until December 2026, Cultúr 2026: Sharing Ireland’s Culture - the official cultural programme of Ireland’s Presidency, is bringing Ireland’s artists, creativity and heritage to stages and communities across Europe and at home.

Supported by a €5M investment from the Minister for Culture, Patrick O’Donovan, and presented by Culture Ireland, Cultúr 2026 is bringing the work of Irish artists to audiences across all 27 EU Member States and beyond, while ensuring communities throughout Ireland can take part in the Presidency at home.

In Monaghan, that European connection has a particular focus, with the county paired with Finland for the duration of Ireland’s Presidency. Monaghan County Council and the Embassy of Finland in Ireland have developed a programme celebrating the connections between the two places and creating new opportunities for cultural, educational, community and business exchange.

Together, Monaghan’s Cultúr 2026 programme celebrates the county’s distinctive creativity and cultural heritage while forging an especially strong new connection with Finland, from Finnish storytelling and music and shared conversations about democracy and peace to Patrick Kavanagh, European cinema, traditional arts for children, the Moomins and literature from all 27 EU Member States – bringing the spirit of Ireland’s Presidency into communities across Monaghan and creating relationships designed to continue long after the Presidency concludes.