The Department of Foreign Affairs is offering a contract worth €120,000 for help facilitating the next “Africa Day campaign and Dublin flagship event”.
The tender, posted on Government procurement platform, eTenders, says that “Event Management Services are required for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Africa Day campaign and Dublin flagship event”.
Africa Day is described on its official Government webpage as “the annual day that commemorates the foundation of the African Union and celebrates the people and culture of African countries”.
This year’s festivities, which took place in May, were marked by events in towns and cities across the country, alongside the main Dublin event which took place May 18 at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham:
“Organised in partnership between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Dublin City Council, an estimated 12,000 attended the event in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham where they were entertained by over 40 musical acts, dancers and cultural groups representing countries across Africa.
“Meanwhile, all 31 Local Authorities across Ireland hosted cultural, artistic, and family-friendly events around the country. These included contemporary African-Irish culture events, as well as family fun days, fashion, art, film, music, dance, and food events, which will take place in every county across Ireland.”
Africa Day and its accompanying events are expected to take place May, 2026, and will likely see a similar lineup of activities on offer.
In a promotional video for Africa Day 2025, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond said that “Africa is the fastest growing continent in the world”.
“There is going to be more people living in Africa in the next decade or two than there is in the rest of the world. It’s also the youngest continent. It is so, so important for Ireland to make sure we maximise our links with Africa, not just in terms of development, but also in terms of the economy, in terms of our people.
“It’s amazing to have so many people who were born in various African countries living here in Ireland. They’re so welcome and they contribute so much,” the minister said, adding, “that’s why Africa is our future and Ireland and Europe need to do everything to connect more”.