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Ireland's pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai is inspired by the megalithic Newgrange lightbox. It will be a fusion of Western and Eastern architecture. Courtesy - Embassy of Ireland in the UAE
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOFIQXK5PVFDF6KCLOPOZFGNSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c357b23a46b1f3aa219400d154b67f9a7e3be4c6058b454636b0194510e0b08d&width=400&height=225)
The Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai was the first to be completed. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YPEWPSB26QLXSWWJF237XLHQHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d86d029360b509074da294558fa3007d8823d673ffe8f79bec5162c6943c201b&width=400&height=225)
Pat Hennessy, Ireland's new commissioner general at his country's pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YGTUOITYBC7LIDCCXKFFE4LDXY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d29ac8b577d9d49d134713bc46d476a3bf48c3d1425fa43a4490291732e7199&width=400&height=225)
The outside of the Oculus at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai on June 17th, 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BIDLH5KXFZ2FY6KWP43DPKIRJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0bcc79af19dbda191541593dd8523b8d3ad0916b8c7bd6c9efa4498e21bdc0d&width=400&height=225)
The inside of the Oculus at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VNVJ4QWJYXDOPFBDMIUL7U23HY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2baaa28b2d49e8063039ea59f19b0b54a889875aaea73bae4eb53ae332bad604&width=400&height=225)
The garden at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U7DUQFQ6DKIMYJ6EC7J77NNWIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d15e98e97dfba8a2158f0090c42f18f8301be55171ffaafb2f97d1f3e3529395&width=400&height=225)
Anita Kelly, deputy commissioner general pictured in the garden at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NURAOZ4IF7Q3SNN6RUQBEQ2XNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=286475f6725380f740203695b97eb67c6e6d2eff0ab24f37daece0f4bef59d36&width=400&height=225)
The garden at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YXU3AZSJTYDPMLU6BP3KCI36VQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=31229dd4a552ed75b4e5ed5c2f24a79c612139760f528075f6cfa656c82bee27&width=400&height=225)
Pat Hennessy, Ireland's new commissioner general at his country's pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X4BERR4RVNGGVD5R46T25VFDZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b3404ae94c5dbdb05c5d45f7be8b38f8d892f01eb951f27c14c976e5c768d7b&width=400&height=225)
The Celtic design on the wall of the garden at the Ireland Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NARFDVKBYAOMCX74TPDSASZ33A.jpg?smart=true&auth=b7018bdb0a8c89511f7133b5f22b187419184ee943fd144e894e92480429f8b6&width=400&height=225)
Ireland's pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai is inspired by the megalithic Newgrange lightbox. It will be a fusion of Western and Eastern architecture. Courtesy - Embassy of Ireland in the UAE
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOFIQXK5PVFDF6KCLOPOZFGNSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c357b23a46b1f3aa219400d154b67f9a7e3be4c6058b454636b0194510e0b08d&width=400&height=225)
The Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai was the first to be completed. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YPEWPSB26QLXSWWJF237XLHQHY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d86d029360b509074da294558fa3007d8823d673ffe8f79bec5162c6943c201b&width=400&height=225)
Pat Hennessy, Ireland's new commissioner general at his country's pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YGTUOITYBC7LIDCCXKFFE4LDXY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d29ac8b577d9d49d134713bc46d476a3bf48c3d1425fa43a4490291732e7199&width=400&height=225)
The outside of the Oculus at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai on June 17th, 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BIDLH5KXFZ2FY6KWP43DPKIRJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0bcc79af19dbda191541593dd8523b8d3ad0916b8c7bd6c9efa4498e21bdc0d&width=400&height=225)
The inside of the Oculus at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VNVJ4QWJYXDOPFBDMIUL7U23HY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2baaa28b2d49e8063039ea59f19b0b54a889875aaea73bae4eb53ae332bad604&width=400&height=225)
The garden at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U7DUQFQ6DKIMYJ6EC7J77NNWIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d15e98e97dfba8a2158f0090c42f18f8301be55171ffaafb2f97d1f3e3529395&width=400&height=225)
Anita Kelly, deputy commissioner general pictured in the garden at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NURAOZ4IF7Q3SNN6RUQBEQ2XNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=286475f6725380f740203695b97eb67c6e6d2eff0ab24f37daece0f4bef59d36&width=400&height=225)
The garden at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YXU3AZSJTYDPMLU6BP3KCI36VQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=31229dd4a552ed75b4e5ed5c2f24a79c612139760f528075f6cfa656c82bee27&width=400&height=225)
Pat Hennessy, Ireland's new commissioner general at his country's pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X4BERR4RVNGGVD5R46T25VFDZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7b3404ae94c5dbdb05c5d45f7be8b38f8d892f01eb951f27c14c976e5c768d7b&width=400&height=225)
The Celtic design on the wall of the garden at the Ireland Pavilion. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NARFDVKBYAOMCX74TPDSASZ33A.jpg?smart=true&auth=b7018bdb0a8c89511f7133b5f22b187419184ee943fd144e894e92480429f8b6&width=400&height=225)
Ireland's pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai is inspired by the megalithic Newgrange lightbox. It will be a fusion of Western and Eastern architecture. Courtesy - Embassy of Ireland in the UAE
Expo 2020 Dubai: Ireland welcomes opportunity to re-engage with the world
Ireland's distinctive pavilion is a fusion of Irish and Arab influences
![Neil Halligan](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9788586c-d714-4739-883a-faccdf34de85.png?smart=true&auth=e888c745be1f4f071de8aa9cbc90c5e4930b057736f65ee79da808bac1341543&width=70&height=70)
Neil Halligan
19 June, 2021
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