the Book Perceptions of Ireland

Press Release

Perceptions of Ireland

A new book on Ireland written in the Russian language by Slava Beskhmelnitskiy
- the first of its kind in over 100 years!

Slava Beskhmelnitskiy is Russian born who arrived in Ireland 10 years ago with his wife, Lilia and daughter, Katia. From the beginning Slava worked tirelessly to learn English and to understand the ways and history of his adoptive country. He has been an extraordinary ambassador for Ireland.

His first book, Perceptions of Ireland, launched at the Chester Beatty Library by the Director, Dr Michael Ryan, is believed to be the first comprehensive book about Ireland in the Russian language written in the last hundred years.

This illustrated book, in 49 sections, provides an overview of the economic, social, political and cultural life of Ireland and is, in fact, the first such resource on Ireland to be ever published in Russian.

The first edition is primarily intended for the c.25,000 Russian speakers currently living in Ireland but future editions will be distributed within the Russian-speaking countries.

Slava founded the Russian-Irish Business Club which promotes business and cultural contacts between the two countries. The club also sponsors Slava's website, www.ireland.ru, a Russian language site designed to promote the development of relations between Ireland and all Russian-speaking countries. It is, by all accounts, a very successful and much visited site in Russia.

Slava also provides a tour-guiding service for Russian speakers visiting Ireland. He is also researching and highlighting the historic connections between Ireland and Russia and its former satellite states.