The commemorative silver coin “Ivan Meštrovic” was launched in Ireland today. The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Ireland Veselko Grubišic were presented with the twin sets of the coin by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland John Hurley.
The commemorative silver coin “Ivan Meštrovic” was was launched in Ireland today. The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Ireland Veselko Grubišic were presented with the twin sets of the coin by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland John Hurley.
Taoiseach Ahern expressed satisfaction over the commemoration of such an important event in the Croatian-Irish relations, as he called Meštrovic's bestowal of his design to the young Irish state 80 years ago. Speaking about today's relations between Croatia and Ireland, Taoiseach Ahern pointed out Ireland's support for Croatia on its road to full EU membership, noting the growing number of Irish tourists visiting Croatia and the investment of Irish citizens in Croatian real estate. All of this provides good background for further intensification of the relations between the two countries, said Taoiseach Ahern.
Speaking at the launch, Central Bank Governor John Hurley said: “This is the first time that the Central Bank has produced a joint coin issue, and I am particularly delighted that the Croatian National Bank has been our partner in this project. Ireland and Croatia have a good deal in common, we share excellent relations in business, financial and political circles and Ireland firmly supports Croatia's objective to become a member of the EU.”
Expressing satisfaction with the fact that the political, economic, and cultural relations between Croatia and Ireland are constantly growing, Ambassador Grubišic described the joint project by the two central banks as a guideline for other joint business ventures.
Ivan Meštrovic was one of five artists who in 1927, at the request of Irish poet William Butler Yeats, drew up the propositions for the design of the first coinage of the Irish Free State. Unfortunately, Meštrovic received the request too late, but, as Yeats recorded: “Meštrovic made one magnificent design and, on discovering that the date had passed, gave it to the Irish Free State with great generosity”. Meštrovic's design “Girl with a Harp” has been used by the Central Bank of Ireland since 1965 for its official seal. Eighty years after it was first made, the design has been used for the commemorative silver coinage in the Croatian version of KN150 and Irish version of €15. The 13,000 coins published for this occasion (3,000 in Zagreb and 10,000 in Dublin) were printed in the mint of the Croatian Monetary Institute, Zagreb.
This project of exceptionally successful co-operation between the Croatian National Bank and the Central Bank of Ireland was launched at the end of 2004 at the initiative of the Croatian Embassy in Dublin and the Croatian Honorary Consul to Ireland, Gerard Danaher, who is also a member of the Supervisory Committee.
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