Ireland will mark St Patrick’s Day 2022 in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, acknowledging their resilience and courage and assuring them of our unwavering support, as we express our Irish identity including our strong commitment to democratic and humanitarian values.
Traditionally, #OPW has set the mood for #StPatricksDay by symbolically ‘greening’ our most iconic Irish landmarks. This year we send a message of solidarity by illuminating 41 sites in the colours of Ukraine.
Read Minister @podonovan‘s statement here: https://t.co/gcC0RK5TH2 pic.twitter.com/REQxGgR4Pb— Office of Public Works (@opwireland) March 16, 2022
A priority focus of our national day will be to highlight that Ireland is an active, engaged, and fully committed member of the international community of free and democratic nations.
In addition to expressing Ireland’s support for the people of Ukraine, a core message of this year’s St Patrick’s Day is that Ireland is reopening. Our international programme is focused on the theme of rebuilding connections and supporting our communities across the globe, acknowledging the importance of Ireland’s global diaspora.
The official St Patrick’s Day international programme will see visits by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, other members of the Government to 62 cities in 28 countries. Nine visits are already complete; the Taoiseach to London; the Tánaiste to Chile, and ministers to Finland, Estonia, Cyprus, Japan, Slovenia, Chicago and Croatia.
Building on the ‘digital diplomacy’ of 2021, 60 of Ireland’s Embassies and Consulates around the world are maximising Ireland’s international reach and impact by holding virtual receptions and publishing localised online content to connect with our Diaspora and key stakeholders. A St Patrick’s Day hub on Ireland.ie has been developed to bring together all of the activity happening on the day throughout the world.
A special St Patrick’s Day video greeting from Ireland to the world, with Paul Brady’s iconic ‘The Island’ song, has been published to mark Ireland’s solidarity and support with the people of Ukraine. The video can be found here: https://dfa-ie.sharefile.eu/d-sefdf6324e5d94c8ab404bf73e42d01a0
In addition, the Taoiseach has encouraged Ireland’s network of Missions that would usually light up green, to light up in blue and yellow, the colours of the flag of Ukraine, and has invited partners who normally take part in the ‘Global Greening’ to join us in doing so.
Ireland is also presenting a special St Patrick’s Festival at the World Expo in Dubai, highlights of which include a world premier concert of new music curated by the National Concert Hall led by renowned musician Martin Hayes, and the launch of “The Irish Songbook (Vol 1)” album of 10 iconic Irish songs recorded by new Irish artists.
All official Ministerial programmes involve intensive engagement to promote Ireland and Irish interests throughout the world. Ministers will underline the centrality of Ireland’s membership of the European Union, reinforce Ireland’s commitment to protecting the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland, and celebrate our heritage and renew our links with our global diaspora, international partners, multilateral fora and business leaders. Each programme includes a number of high-level meetings and engagements in support of Irish business, all promoting Ireland as a great place to live, visit, work, invest, trade with, and study.
Taoiseach: Washington D.C, (already visited, London 11-13 March)
Tánaiste: Colombia (14-18 March); Chile (already visited 8-13 March)
Minister: Ryan New York City
Minister Donohoe: London, UK
Minister McGrath: Vancouver, Canada
Minister Martin: Buenos Aires
Minister O’Brien: Expo 2020 Dubai, & Abu Dhabi
Minister Foley: Boston
Minister O’Gorman: New York, USA;
Minister McEntee: Savannah
Minister Donnelly: San Antonio & Austin
Minister of State Hackett: Athens
Minister of State Naughton: Sydney
Minister of State Byrne: Rome
Minister of State Smyth: Madrid
Minister of State Madigan: Vienna
Minister of State Heydon: UNIFIL Post
Minister of State Rabbitte: Budapest
Minister of State Brophy: Mexico City
Minister of State Burke: Seoul
Minister of State Troy: Mumbai
Minister of State English: Stockholm
Minister of State Butler: Brussels
Minister of State Feighan: Paris
Minister of State Fleming: Edinburgh
Minister of State Browne: Prague
Attorney General Washington D.C., USA
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