One of the attractions at Waterford, Ireland.

Irish ambassador Jim Hennessey and his wife recently hosted an event at their Ta’ Xbiex residence to celebrate the close cultural ties and exchanges between the Maltese and Irish republics.

Among the guests were the Friends of the Waterford Treasures Museums, in Malta on a cultural tour. They visited historical sites in Malta and Gozo, including St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta and the Mdina Cathedral Museum, where Fr Edgar Vella facilitated the group’s visit to the collection of Dürer drawings.

The group also had the opportunity of meeting Marquis Nicholas de Piro and greatly appreciated the work of Heritage Malta, while obtain-ing an insight into the achievements of Din l-Art Ħelwa in preserving and safeguarding Malta’s cultural riches.

The Waterford Treasures Group are supporters of that medieval city’s three important museums, namely the Medieval, the Bishop’s Palace and the Reginald Viking’s Tower.

Waterford has many other historical links, such as being the birthplace of Fr Luke Wadding, who enshrined March 17 as the feast of St Patrick in the Roman Catholic calendar.

The ancient city, founded in 964, is also home to the world-famous Waterford Crystal.

The Irish embassy also presented a recital by local musicians. Among them was flautist Nathalie Mangion Randon, who played two works for solo flute by Carmelo Pace.

She also performed Chopin’s, miniature known as The Raindrop, and later accompanied soprano Gabrielle Sargent in O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi and Quando m’en vo’ from La Bohème, both by Puccini.

She also sang two classical Irish airs: She moved through the fair, and I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls.