In the honour of the joint Irish Hungarian cultural and sacral tradition related to the Irish Madonna, a devotional painting kept in the Basilica of Győr, a highly succesful series of cultural, touristic and economic events were organized to introduce the West Hungarian City of Győr in Dublin and Galway between 17-20 April, 2009. Apart from the leaders of Győr city council a 60 member strong group of artists, clergymen, business people and journalists visited Ireland to participate in the programs.

The Days of Győr in Ireland commenced on 17 April by a cultural show at the Samuel Beckett Theatre in Dublin’s Trinity College, where the Győr Ballet Company, the Bolero Wind Ensemble and singer Eszter Balogh presented their performances in front of a packed house. Before the show Eibhlin Byrne, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Zsolt Borkai, the Mayor of Győr and Ferenc Jári, the Ambassador of Hungary officially opened the Festival of Győr. The next day the Győr Ballet Company, the Bolero Wind Ensemble, opera singer Ibolya Verebics, singer Eszter Balogh and organ player Gergely Rákász performed in the historic St. Nicholas Church in Galway. The audience included the Mayors of both the city and the county of Galway. On 19 April in the Donneycarney Church (Dublin) a joint Irish-Hungarian mass was conducted by Arhbishop Diarmuid Martin, the Primate of Ireland which was attended by Eibhlin Byrne, the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Sean Haughay, Minister of State of the Irish Government among hundreds of Irish and Hungarian worshipers. Both in Dublin and Galway exhibitions showcasing main tourist destinations in Hungary with a special focus on the Győr area were put on display along with an exhibition of Hungarian medals. On the occasion of the Festival a volume under the title „Comforter of the Afflicted” was published on the story of the Irish Madonna both in English and in Hungarian.

The visiting Mayor of Győr, Zsolt Borkai and the two Vice Mayors, Dr Rudolf Ottófi and Dr Tivadar Somogyi were received by Mary McAleese, the President of Ireland, Dr Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin, Eamon Ó Cuiv, Minister of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Martin Mansergh, Minister of State for Arts, Eibhlin Byrne, the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Mark Henry, Director at Tourism Ireland. In Galway they met Padraig Coneely, the Mayor of Galway and Peter Feeney, the Mayor of county Galway.

János Kiss, the Director of the Győr Ballet Company paid a visit to Dance Ireland and had promising discussions with its management about future cooperation.

The delegation of Győr businessmen had wide ranging negotiations at the Dublin and Galway Chambers of Commerce and Industry and met members of the Council of the Irish Hungarian Business Association.