Commemorating the life and work of Václav Havel on the occasion of the would be his 80^th birthday, two decades since the official visit of President Havel to Ireland and five years since his death two memorial events were organised in Dublin on 7^th December 2016 at the initiative of the Czech Embassy in Dublin.

 The main event was the literary and political evening at National Library of Ireland titled "Václav Havel Theatre as Politics, and Politics as Theatre". Its main protagonist was the current Director of the Václav Havel Library, Michael Žantovský who debated about Havel and his book “Havel: A Life" with the Provost of the National University of Ireland Maurice Manning and the audience. The event, which was organised through the cooperation of the Czech Embassy, the Václav Havel Library, National Library of Ireland and Dublin UNESCO City of literature was attended by a hundred guests from Irish academia as well as numerous artists, journalists, students, ambassadors accredited to Ireland, members of the Czech-Irish community and the general public with an interest in literature, theatre or politics.

On the same day, the Chairman of the Dáil, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD organised a gathering at the Václav Havel bust, where speeches were delivered by  the host as well as the Director of the Václav Havel Library, Michael Žantovský and the Czech Ambassador to Ireland, Hana Mottlová.

Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl at the gathering in the Irish parliament

 

Politico-literary evening at the National Library of Ireland

 

After the event at the National Library of Ireland – from right: Michael Žantovský, Maurice Manning, Hana Mottlová