An ice hockey team composed of Latvians from Ireland and the homeland have won a St. Patrick’s holiday tournament in Dundalk.

Players from the Ireland-based Latvian Hawks and the Latvia-based Vitrum combined to take the March 15-16 tournament, said Kristaps Otisons, media coordinator for the Latvian Hawks.

On the first day of competition, the Vitrum-Latvian Hawks team won 11-2 against the Dublin Rams. In a second game, the Dundalk Bulls beat the Latvia-based Agni team 6-3.

On the second day, Agni won a consolation game 6-1 against the Dublin Rams. In the final, the Vitrum-Latvian Hawks squad won 3-2 in overtime against the Dundalk Bulls.

Both Vitrum and Agni play in the Beaster Baltic Hockey League in Latvia.

The Latvian Hawks, composed largely of recent immigrants from Latvia, play in the Irish Ice Hockey League. The Dundalk Bulls, after smashing the Latvian Hawks 26-4, earlier in March won the league championship against the Flyers Ice Hockey Club.

Latvian President Valdis Zatlers, on a working visit to Germany, will participate with other Baltic leaders in opening the “Essentia Baltica 2008” program March 15 in Berlin, the president’s press office has announced.

The program highlights Baltic culture in recognition of Latvia’s, Estonia’s and Lithuania’s declarations of independence 90 years ago, as well as Germany’s ties to the region. The program is scheduled to run through November and will include exhibits and performances in several German cities.

The opening ceremony is to include a performance in the Berlin Philharmonic Hall by the Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra led by violinist Gidon Kremer. Also at the opening will be Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Estonian Parliament President Ene Ergma.

During May, a reciprocal program, “O, Vācija!,” will showcase German culture in Latvia.

Besides the cultural program, Zatlers is scheduled March 16 to meet with German parliament representatives involved in cooperation with the Baltics, former German ambassador in Latvia Hagen Graf Lambsdorff and other political leaders.