7.5 Million People in Russia and CIS Countries to See Images of Ireland

Images of Ireland will be seen by an estimated 7.5 million TV viewers across Russia, the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as a number of the Russian-speaking CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries like Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan later this year, after scenes for a Russian television show, Dancing Planet, were filmed here last week – courtesy of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.

A film crew from the state-owned Russian television channel, My Planet, spent eight days here, capturing footage at various locations, for two Irish-themed episodes of the popular programme. The upcoming series will see presenter and professional dancer/choreographer Aleksandr Pukhov travel to various countries around the world, in a quest to discover more about the culture of each country through music and dance. The two episodes filmed here will air this September.

The crew began filming in Dublin, with a Riverdance “masterclass” in the Gaiety Theatre, followed by an evening of Irish music and dance at the Irish House Party on Francis Street. They were also in Dublin for the special Riverdance weekend, with presenter and dancer Aleksandr having the chance to take part in the incredible “Longest Line Guinness World Record”. In Limerick, the TV crew filmed some of this year’s Munster Fleadh at the University of Limerick; and in Drumshanbo, in Co Leitrim, they filmed set dancing and a fiddle recital during the Joe Mooney Summer School, a week-long traditional festival of Irish music, song and dance. Then it was on to Mount Falcon Hotel in Ballina, where they took in a performance by members of the Sylvan Kelly School of Irish Dancing, before enjoying a private Irish dancing lesson with them.

Jim Paul, Tourism Ireland’s head of Australia and developing markets, said: “We are delighted that My Planet TV chose to film in Ireland. It is a really wonderful opportunity to showcase our rich culture of traditional dance and music, as well as some of the many things to see and do in this part of Ireland, to a huge audience of potential holidaymakers in Russia and other Russian-speaking countries. Television and film are recognised as strong influencers for prospective holidaymakers and Tourism Ireland regularly works with TV and production companies around the world, to facilitate the making of travel and lifestyle programmes and films around the island of Ireland. The publicity value of a TV programme like this is incalculable – it is a really great way of promoting Ireland to millions of people in numerous countries, helping to inspire travellers to come and experience the destination for themselves.”

Tourism Ireland research has shown that the Russian market has limited understanding of what the island of Ireland has to offer as a holiday destination; so a key objective is to begin building awareness in Russia of the many things to see and do on a holiday here. Tourism Ireland’s programme of activity involves working with influential tour operators and travel agents, as well as travel media, to increase exposure and demand for holidays to the island of Ireland; as well as hosting familiarisation visits for Russian travel agents and tour operators around the island of Ireland.