St. Patrick's Day and other events at the Expo 2020 Ireland pavilion

Al Wasl Plaza hosting special concert by renowned musician Martin Hayes as part of events

The Irish pavilion is in the Mobility District, near Jubilee Park. Photo: Embassy of Ireland

Anita Kelly, deputy commissioner general, in the garden at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.

The Oculus at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.

The garden at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.

The garden area is a multipurpose event and performance space that will be used for the majority of Ireland’s programme in the pavilion, including regular Irish music events. Photo: Embassy of Ireland

The exterior of the Oculus at the Ireland Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.

Another view of the garden area at the pavilion. Photo: Embassy of Ireland

The Irish pavilion in the Mobility District is ready to welcome visitors with the country's renowned Irish hospitality. Photo: Embassy of Ireland

The Ireland pavilion at Expo 2020 is celebrating St Patrick's Day on Thursday, March 17 with a mixture of culture, sport and business events for the country's national day.

The world's fair is hosting a special St Patrick's Day parade, led by the Irish Defence Forces Pipe Band and joined by the Irish community in the UAE.

The pavilion is teaming up with the Irish National Concert Hall to deliver a range of cultural performances for the day, including a specially curated concert by world-renowned Irish musician Martin Hayes at Al Wasl Plaza.

Ireland Pavilion’s Expo Players performing at the launch of the St Patrick's Day programme. Image: Ireland at Expo

Music will also be the focus at the pavilion throughout the day, where the resident Expo Players will perform tracks from the Irish Songbook – a collection of 55 of the country's songs, 10 of which have been chosen for a special album that will be released on St Patrick's Day.

Al Wasl Plaza will also host a special 360-degree screening of Irish animation. Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon has created a special edit showing some of their Oscar-nominated films, including Wolfwalkers, The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea.

Irish sporting heroes are joining a special family fun day planned for Expo Sports Arena, while motivator Maeve Madden, founder of Queens Don’t Quit, will lead a fitness session where she hopes to gather the most nationalities taking part in one class.

The Irish Business Network has also hosted its annual St Patrick’s Day breakfast at the Expo, with a speech from Ireland's Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, who is also attending the flag-raising ceremony.

Al Wasl Plaza and Expo Sports Arena will be taking part in the 'global greening' initiative in which buildings across the world light up in green for the day.