Poetry, selfies and politics as Micheál Martin meets Chinese students of Gaeilge
Tánaiste Micheál Martin meeting with China's vice-president Han Zheng in Beijing on Monday.
Poetry recitals, selfies and Chinese students playing traditional Irish music formed part of the Tánaiste’s final day in Beijing.
On arrival to the Irish studies centre at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Michéal Martin was greeted by a number of Chinese students, who frantically waved mini Irish and Chinese flags and shouted "fáilte romhat" as he emerged from his car.
It was a familiar venue. It was not the first time the Tánaiste had visited the campus, having attended the site in 2010. He was struck by the display of a large standing poster on his way into the auditorium, which had a picture of him from 13 years ago. “I had a bit more hair there,” he joked.
His presence at the university was significant, given the Irish language is one of the 101 foreign languages taught at the campus — between 20 and 30 Chinese students every year studying Gaeilge there.
Mr Martin took the time to praise two Chinese professors, who studied in UCD, for being instrumental in offering students in Beijing the opportunity to learn Irish and about Irish literature.
He also paid tribute to Professor Wang Zhanpeng and Professor Chen Li, who were presented last year with the Presidential Distinguished Service award by President Michael D Higgins.
"What’s the craic?" musician Jaylin Chu said from centre stage, having played the flute alongside a friend who was skilled at playing the bodhrán.
Chu studied at the University of Limerick, where he fell in love with traditional Irish music and The Chieftains. So much so, he now sells Irish instruments in Beijing and offers music lessons to all who want to learn.
The crowd of about 200 students watched a blindsided Mr Martin join pupils on stage to recite WB Yeats ‘When you are Old’, which was read in Chinese, English and Irish.
Taking questions from the audience, Mr Martin spoke of his love for the Irish language, telling the crowd he picked up Irish as a child at the Gaeltacht in West Kerry and returned to the Dingle peninsula every year.
He explained to students the myth of the Blarney Stone and being gifted with the gab when asked about his favourite beauty spot back home. Having acknowledged a few landmarks, he settled on Newgrange as his favourite, but also gave West Cork a mention.
Responding to a young female student who asked about climate change, Mr Martin told the room how everyone had to change their behaviour and the need to “move fast” to reduce the impacts that are already visible.
He told of the recent flood events in Ireland and “rainfall like we haven’t experienced before”. He said both China and Ireland have to work together to achieve net zero emissions.
The visit to the university marked one of the Tánaiste’s final engagements in Beijing and it was expected to be very much a focus on Irish culture and education, which it was. However, Mr Martin did not miss the opportunity to use his almost 30-minute speech to set out Ireland’s position on the war in Ukraine and the Middle East.
He also told students how China and the EU do not always agree and take different approaches to matters. Mention of such issues appeared to have left Chinese staff working on the visit with the Irish embassy a little nervous. It wasn’t anything that he hasn’t said before, but it appeared there was some apprehension about the setting and audience.
After exchanging gifts, which included a photo of himself from the university and numerous Irish books, Mr Martin began to depart the auditorium but was swarmed by students, giddy to get a selfie with the Irish minister as The Rattlin’ Bog and The Irish Rover pumped out of speakers around the room.
A motorcade sped through the city, with roads cleared and traffic lights remaining green until Mr Martin was driven onto the train station platform before setting off on a high-speed train to Shanghai, where he will wrap up his China visit on Thursday.
