20/06/2026
Promoting Mongolian Culture and Arts at Ireland’s Multicultural Festival
Mongolian culture, arts, and traditions were proudly showcased at the “Taste of All Nations” multicultural festival held in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, through the joint participation of the Mongolian Nomadic Centre (MNC), the Mongolian Students Association in Ireland (MSAI), and the Ireland-based Khuur Ensemble.
The annual festival brings together people from diverse cultural backgrounds living in Ireland, providing a platform to share national traditions, arts, cuisine, and heritage while fostering intercultural understanding and community integration. It is recognised for presenting the rich cultural diversity of nations from around the world in a single vibrant event.
The event was organised by Hands 4 Unity, a community organisation based in County Louth that actively promotes participation, social inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and community cohesion among people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Representatives of the Mongolian community introduced visitors to Mongolia’s unique nomadic heritage, traditional customs, and national identity through cultural displays and live performances. Attendees were given an opportunity to experience some of Mongolia’s most treasured artistic traditions and gain a deeper understanding of the country's rich cultural heritage.
The programme featured performances of the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), yatga (Mongolian zither), and khoomii (Mongolian throat singing), all of which attracted significant interest from festival participants.
The morin khuur, widely regarded as one of Mongolia’s most important cultural symbols, is recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Its distinctive sound reflects the vast Mongolian steppe, the close relationship between people and nature, and the nomadic way of life that has shaped Mongolian identity for centuries.
The yatga, one of Mongolia’s oldest traditional string instruments, is celebrated for its elegant and melodic sound. It continues to play an important role in both traditional folk music and contemporary Mongolian musical compositions.
Another highlight of the event was the presentation of Mongolian throat singing, or khoomii. This remarkable vocal art allows a performer to produce multiple tones simultaneously and is considered one of Mongolia’s most unique cultural traditions. Deeply connected to the natural environment and nomadic worldview, khoomii reflects sounds inspired by wind, water, mountains, and the surrounding landscape. It is also inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and continues to captivate audiences around the world.
The participation of the Mongolian delegation provided local Irish residents and international visitors with a valuable opportunity to discover Mongolia’s distinctive culture, arts, and traditions. At the same time, the event brought together people from diverse nations and cultural backgrounds, creating meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange, mutual learning, and friendship. Through their contribution, the Mongolian participants helped strengthen intercultural understanding and promote international cultural cooperation.
Khuur Ensemble: Promoting Mongolian Folk Arts Across Europe
The Khuur Ensemble is a Mongolian folk arts group based in Ireland dedicated to promoting traditional Mongolian culture through performances of the morin khuur, yatga, throat singing, traditional dance, and other forms of Mongolian folk art.
The ensemble regularly participates in multicultural festivals, educational programmes, community events, and cultural celebrations throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom, and other European countries, helping to introduce Mongolian cultural heritage to international audiences.
The ensemble’s members include:
• Idermaa Battulga – Yatga Musician
• Enkhbat Gantumur – Morin Khuur Musician
• Batnasan Otgonbold – Morin Khuur Musician
• Batzorig Altangerel – Morin Khuur Musician
• Budgarav Bayarbaysgalan – Morin Khuur Musician
• Anujin Mendpurev – Traditional Dancer
• Bayarbaysgalan Batzorig – Throat Singer and Percussionist
Through their performances and cultural outreach activities, the members of Khuur Ensemble continue to preserve, promote, and share Mongolia’s rich folk arts and musical heritage with audiences across Ireland, Europe, and beyond.
