THE news out of Northern Ireland has been getting better, and it is about to get much better as a massive cultural exhibit is about to be launched in the heart of our nation's capital, on the Mall in Washington D.C.

The Smithsonian Institution 2007 Folklife Festival has invited 160 participants from that part of the world to be part of their educational window on our world which spills over to the Mall in this annual celebration that surrounds the July 4th Independence Holiday. For two weeks (June 27-July 8) more than a million people will take in an carefully chosen set of exhibits and presentations by artists, craftspeople, storytellers, cooks and laborers amidst of bevy of outstanding performers that will attempt to portray everyday life and history that most of us only know for the political turmoil of the past four decades or in some people's timeframe four centuries.

Certainly the serendipity of the recent power-sharing arrangements in Belfast bodes well for an open and stimulating look at this part of the world which has contributed so much to the development of the U.S. over the years, mostly through the immigration of its population.

Like most Smithsonian exhibits, education and research are the primary objectives. But you can expect a certain amount of cultural tourism to be at work here as the economy wouldn't mind the drumbeat of Americans marching towards the north of Ireland to help overcome the years of political paralysis over differences rather than similarities.

The beauty of these free Smithsonian festivals is that they serve to remind all those who venture there how wide and varied the world and the U.S. are by peering into our past and our roots.

You can expect to learn about Belleek Pottery, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, lace making, bagpipe and bodhran makers and even the more modern political mural painters among myriad other demonstrations. That would also include shipbuilding from the Harland and Wolf folks who brought you the Titanic (It was fine when it left Belfast, they claim).

I am really excited about the vast array of talented musicians, singers and storytellers that are part of the assembled ambassadors of Ulster. With its decided emphasis on folk or tradition bearing performers, you will have the chance to see such fine singers as Len Graham, Patricia Flynn, Roisin White, Tommy and Colum Sands among others.

Four Men and a Dog featuring Gino Lipari and Cathal Hayden and Craobh Rua lead the instrumental groups. The roguish Cathal MacConnell, whose brother Cormac appears in the Irish Voice, left his Boys of the Lough mates behind to appear with his fellow Fermanagh musicians Gabriel McArdle, Jim McGrath and Pat McManus as part of the recent phenomenon known as "Hidden Fermanagh," a collection of outstanding traditional musicians who represent that county.

The uilleann piping tradition will be on display thanks to the efforts of the Vallely family who have sustained the Armagh Piping Club and its most famous outlet, the William Kennedy Piping Festival held annually in Armagh. Eithne Vallely will appear with her sons Caoimhin and Cillian (who just became a new Dad here in Queens, New York) and also Jarlath Henderson.

Dara Vallely will lead the Armagh Rhymers, and t

here will also be the Aughakillymaude Community Mummers from Fermanagh, both of whom practice that ancient community entertainment of rural societies.

Dancers will be catered to, with Mary Fox from Co. Down, one of Ireland's foremost dancing masters who has helped preserved ceili, set and sean nos dancing in the North, and also Lucy Mulholland who has played a leading part in passing on Ulster Scots folk-dancing. Also there is an intriguing Gospel group called the Low Country Boys who will make an appearance.

Local and visiting trad musicians can even sit in on daily sessions led by the Northern Ireland musicians at the "Lough Erne Inn" site as part of the exhibit.

There is lots of great free entertainment here at the premier summer cultural event in D.C., with entertainment starting as early as 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but there are also events taking place at the Kennedy Center and some evening shows.

The Mall will be shared with equally diverse entertainment from the state of Virginia (celebrating Jamestown's 400th anniversary) and the Mekong River countries of Southeast Asia. It's a great educational trip for a family and something very different from waiting on endless lines at your local Six-Flags amusement park.

Find out much more at www.folklife.si/edu/center/festival.