A worldwide push to promote Ireland is underway, in the run up to St Patrick’s Day on 17 March. A new book has been launched by the Taoiseach of Ireland to celebrate 10 years of Global Greening, more global landmarks than ever are set to light up green this year and a new film has been unveiled by Tourism Ireland to encourage people to visit Ireland.

The new online film unveiled by Tourism Ireland for St Patrick’s Day 2019 aims to encourage prospective holidaymakers to visit Ireland this year.

The story of St Patrick has fascinated the world for centuries. Almost 1,600 years after he first came to the island of Ireland, international visitors can still witness his legacy today.

Tourism Ireland’s video celebrates the legacy of Ireland’s famous patron saint, as people everywhere get ready to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. The film includes footage shot around the island of Ireland and urges people everywhere to ‘press play’ and check out why they need to put a visit to Ireland on their holiday ‘wish list’ for 2019. 

The film is being promoted through Tourism Ireland’s social platforms, including Facebook (around 4.34 million fans worldwide), Twitter (507,000 followers) and YouTube. 
 
Tourism Ireland is the organisation responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a leading holiday destination. Tourism is the island of Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, responsible for in excess of 4% of GNP in the Republic of Ireland and employing around 325,000 people across the island. In 2018, Ireland welcomed around 11.2 million overseas visitors.

To mark 10 successful years of the Global Greening initiative, Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar TD joined Tourism Ireland to launch its new book, called Ireland’s Greening of the World. The book tells the story of Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening since it began in 2010 and how it has since captured the imagination of people everywhere.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland at the launch

The initiative, which sees hundreds of iconic landmarks around the world light up green to celebrate the island of Ireland and St Patrick, first began in Sydney – when the Sydney Opera House went green on 17 March 2010. The campaign has gone from strength to strength every year since then, with around 360 sites (or more) in at least 51 different countries set to take part for St Patrick’s Day 2019.

Leo Varadkar said: “Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening project is a powerful symbol of the impact of our Irish abroad and is an expression of our reach, our shared values and our ambition. The Global Greening project, like our diaspora, stretches across the world, to every continent, going beyond our historical connections into where we can now be found. Today, as Taoiseach, I am proud to see that so many places in Ireland and around the world are involved in this project, contributing to its enormous success.”

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel and Tourism, added: “St Patrick’s Day is a celebration of everything to do with Ireland and it is fantastic that so many people in all parts of the world are getting involved. Ireland is one of the world’s great tourist destinations and we are delighted that our tours give so many people the opportunity to experience this lovely country.”

This year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Dublin takes place from 14 to 18 March, and is one of the world’s largest St Patrick’s celebrations, most famous for its spectacular St Patrick’s Day Parade on 17 March.

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of Ireland, exploring the legacy of St Patrick and taking in the country’s most famous historic sites, or perhaps including a visit to the annual St Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, please do contact our friendly team today.