Ireland at Expo unveils its St. Patrick’s Festival Programme; Celebrating the Island of Inspiration & Creativity

Press Release

• 21-02-2022

Ireland’s culture of creativity and innovation will be brought to life on Ireland’s National Day at Expo 2020, taking place the 17th of March, through culture, sport, screen, business and community events along with the iconic ‘Greening’ of Expo landmarks. Festivities will begin with animation and screen events on 15th and 16th March. 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 16 February, 2022: The Ireland Pavilion at Expo 2020 is proud to announce the exciting line-up of events, performances and activities for Ireland’s National Day, St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th of March. St. Patrick’s Day provides a special opportunity to share the best of Irish culture and heritage with our friends around the world and there is no place better to do so than Expo 2020 Dubai. Friends and families alike have a unique opportunity to celebrate their Irishness, or become ‘Irish for a day’ at Expo 2020 Dubai. This special festival enables us to reconnect our people, reconnect our communities and reconnect Ireland with the world. Ireland is open again, to visitors, for trade and business, to new ideas and innovation and the St. Patrick’s Festival programme showcases all that Ireland has to offer 

Officially launched by Catherine Martin TD, Ireland’s Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media at the Ireland Pavilion on the 16th of February, the St. Patrick’s Festival at Expo will see a full multi-strand programme of initiatives across business, culture, sport, community and screen. As an internationally recognised and celebrated calendar event, St. Patrick’s Day provides a platform to enhance regional and international understanding of Ireland, while simultaneously acknowledging the Irish community in the UAE.  

Minister Martin said:  

I am delighted to launch today the ambitious and jam-packed programme for the St. Patrick’s Festival at Expo 2020 Dubai. After a very difficult period for Ireland and indeed the international community, it is incredibly exciting and inspiring to see the best of Irish culture, sport, business, screen and our diaspora take centre stage at Expo in celebration of our National Day. People all around the world come together each year to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and I am delighted that for one year only, the Global Greening will come to Expo. I encourage you all to join us for this special celebration.  

 The core elements of the St Patricks Festival at Expo are as follows: 

Expo ‘Greening’ 

The hugely successful ‘Global Greening’ initiative will come to Expo 2020 this year, in partnership with Tourism Ireland. Iconic landmarks across Expo 2020 Dubai, such as Al Wasl Plaza, Expo Sports Arena and of course, the Ireland Pavilion will light up in the distinctive hue of green offering a mesmerising display across the Expo 2020 site. Global Greening is an international phenomenon which takes place every St. Patrick’s Day and has seen the world’s most iconic buildings, landmarks and natural wonders such as the Sydney Opera House, Niagara Falls and the Leaning Tower of Pisa lit up in green. 

Cultural Performances  

The Ireland Pavilion will partner with the Irish National Concert Hall to deliver a range of cultural performances for St. Patrick’s Day at Expo. This includes a specially curated concert by world-renowned Irish instrumentalist, Martin Hayes that reflects the breadth and vibrancy of modern Irish music and feature some of Ireland’s finest musicians. Ireland will have an exciting opportunity to stage a musical performance in the special Al Wasl Plaza, inclusive of an immersive, bespoke audio-visual show. This concert will be recorded and live-streamed on ireland.ie and across Tourism Ireland channels for viewers all around the world.  

The musical heart of Ireland’s presence at Expo, the Ireland Pavilion’s Expo Players, will animate the Pavilion Courtyard throughout the day, performing Irish music and tracks from the Irish Songbook. The Expo players are drawn from a deep well of Irish musical talent to introduce audiences to Irish music, its history, instruments and stories. 

The Irish Songbook is a special project for Expo focused on iconic Irish songs, in collaboration with the National Concert. It comprises 55 songs in total and culminates in an album recording and international release of a selection of 10 songs from the Irish Songbook for Saint Patrick’s Day 2022.  

Sport and Fitness Events 

The Ireland Pavilion will partner with Sport Ireland to deliver a sporting element to St. Patrick’s Festival at Expo that will excite and energise the Irish and wider Expo community, placing an emphasis on health and wellbeing. The local Irish sporting community (including GAA and soccer) will come together for a special family-fun day and blitz, with Irish sporting heroes as guests of honour. The fun extends to family members of all ages as Founder of Queens Don’t Quit and Fitness Motivator, Maeve Madden will lead a once-off outdoor, free fitness class that will draw crowds. Following the success and excitement generated by Riverdance at Expo, a prominent Dubai Irish Dancing School will also participate, demonstrating sport’s many forms. These events will be held at Expo’s state of the art Sports Arena and Festival Park.  

Business events 

The Ireland pavilion will partner with the Irish Business Network (IBN) Dubai to host their annual flagship St. Patrick’s Day breakfast event at Expo. The IBN is a vibrant and active business organisation supporting Irish businesses and professionals living in Dubai who are Irish or have an affiliation with Ireland. This major event will provide a strong business element to Ireland’s St. Patrick’s Festival at Expo. As well as a keynote address from Minister Darragh O’Brien, there will be panel discussions including executives with regional and international responsibilities, interviews with representatives of Irish agencies and industries and ‘elevator pitches’ from emerging Irish businesses.  

Screen and Animation 

Irish animation is a huge success around the world, demonstrating the best of Ireland’s creativity and innovation. The Ireland Pavilion is partnering with Screen Ireland and the Galway Film Fleadh to showcase an extensive and eclectic range of Irish animated films across Expo. Cartoon Saloon have created a special edit from some of their major, Oscar nominated, films (including Wolfwalkers, Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea) which will be shown in the iconic 360 degree Al Wasl Plaza. Screenings will be enhanced by a series of events with leading figures in the Irish film, animation and scoring industries, highlighting Ireland’s successes and unique offering in these fields, including electrifying live performances by the world-renowned Irish fusion group, Kíla. Special screenings of these family friendly films and special film events will kick off the St. Patrick’s Festival on 15th March.   

Community 

Engagement with the Irish community and friends of Ireland is at the heart of the St. Patrick’s Festival at Expo 2020. A St. Patrick’s Day parade at Expo 2020will be led by Irish Defence Force Pipers and will the Irish community and friends of Ireland, all are welcome!. Events hosted at the Ireland Pavilion will showcase the best of Irish food and drink in partnership with Bord Bia.  

Official National Day Celebrations  

Expo 2020 Dubai will host a programme of National Day events for Ireland, including a ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza, the jewel of Expo 2020 Dubai with an Irish delegation led by Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and representatives of the UAE Government.  

All events are included with an Expo entry pass and are suitable for all ages. No prior registration is required and all are welcome to join us for this once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Expo 2020 Dubai.

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