• Burj Khalifa lights up in celebration of St Patrick’s Day. Wam
    Burj Khalifa lights up in celebration of St Patrick’s Day. Wam
  • Revellers attend the St Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 2019 in Dublin, Ireland. Ireland's in-person parades are cancelled this year. Getty Images
    Revellers attend the St Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 2019 in Dublin, Ireland. Ireland's in-person parades are cancelled this year. Getty Images
  • Spectators line the route during the annual St Patricks Day parade through Dublin on March 17, 2019. Authorities are hopeful regular parades can resume next year. AFP
    Spectators line the route during the annual St Patricks Day parade through Dublin on March 17, 2019. Authorities are hopeful regular parades can resume next year. AFP
  • People enjoy the St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin on March 17, 2019. AFP
    People enjoy the St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin on March 17, 2019. AFP
  • A boy dressed as 'Uncle Sam' and a girl dressed in all green make their way up 5th Avenue during the annual New York City St. Patrick's Day parade in 2019. AFP
    A boy dressed as 'Uncle Sam' and a girl dressed in all green make their way up 5th Avenue during the annual New York City St. Patrick's Day parade in 2019. AFP
  • Bagpipers march on 5th Avenue during the annual New York City St Patrick's Day parade in 2019. AFP
    Bagpipers march on 5th Avenue during the annual New York City St Patrick's Day parade in 2019. AFP
  • The Irish Guards, a regiment of the British army, parade to mark St Patrick's Day at Wellington Barracks, March, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images
    The Irish Guards, a regiment of the British army, parade to mark St Patrick's Day at Wellington Barracks, March, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images
  • A man celebrating St Patrick's Day strolls in the O'Connell Street area of Dublin on March 17, 2020, as St Patrick's Day festivities are cancelled and pubs shut in reaction to the Covid-19 outbreak. AFP
    A man celebrating St Patrick's Day strolls in the O'Connell Street area of Dublin on March 17, 2020, as St Patrick's Day festivities are cancelled and pubs shut in reaction to the Covid-19 outbreak. AFP

UAE

St Patrick's Day: Ireland to celebrate national holiday with free online festival

Showcase of heritage to connect the 80 million people across the world with Irish descent

John Dennehy
John Dennehy

March 12, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Ireland's national holiday – St Patrick's Day – is known for its colourful parades through the world's cities, drawing millions of people.

The Irish diaspora from across the globe also return home to the Emerald Isle to celebrate with friends and family for the March 17 event.

The Covid-19 pandemic means much of that will not happen for a second year, but an online festival now aims to connect the 80 million people around the world of Irish descent.

The virtual celebration runs from Friday until Wednesday and will be broadcast on St Patrick's Festival TV – a free online channel accessible around the world.

It will feature more than 100 virtual events showcasing Irish music, theatre, art, poetry, storytelling, traditional arts, food, culture and much more.

The centrepiece will be a virtual St Patrick's Day parade where anyone can share their home parade with the world using social media hashtags.

Organisers say they want Irish people around the globe to “throw off the long, dark months and rise to embrace brighter days ahead”.

Ireland's pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai is inspired by the megalithic Newgrange tomb. Courtesy Embassy of Ireland in the UAE
Ireland's pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai is inspired by the megalithic Newgrange tomb. Courtesy Embassy of Ireland in the UAE

Close to 10,000 Irish residents live in the UAE and many landmarks in the country will turn green for the day.

It is part of a longstanding worldwide campaign by Ireland's tourism chiefs to boost the country's profile.

UAE landmarks such as Dubai Frame, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club have turned green to mark the day.

Ireland will also have a major presence at Dubai Expo 2020 with a pavilion inspired by the country's megalithic Newgrange tomb.

Newgrange is older than the pyramids and Stonehenge and is known for a phenomenon during the winter solstice when sunlight shines through a lightbox and floods the inner chamber.

Ireland will also host a six-month programme of cultural, educational, sporting, business and other activities and events at Expo 2020.

"Ireland's story is an inspirational one and Expo 2020 is an opportunity to tell that story to a large, truly global audience," said Aidan Cronin, Ireland's ambassador to the UAE.

“Our pavilion will showcase Irish history, science, technology, business and culture. The re-creation of the Newgrange light box will be a highlight of our pavilion, when visitors will get a chance to experience one of the wonders of Irish innovation and creative thinking, dating back some 5,000 years.”

How Expo 2020 Dubai will look – in pictures

  • The Sustainability pavilion. The 130-metre wide canopy, called Terra, features 1,055 solar panels which will generate 4GWh of alternative energy per year, enough electricity to charge more than 900,000 mobile phones.
    The Sustainability pavilion. The 130-metre wide canopy, called Terra, features 1,055 solar panels which will generate 4GWh of alternative energy per year, enough electricity to charge more than 900,000 mobile phones.
  • The Sustainability pavilion. It will offer visitors the chance to explore humankind’s relationship with nature, excessive consumerism, and how we can change our everyday choices to reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact.
    The Sustainability pavilion. It will offer visitors the chance to explore humankind’s relationship with nature, excessive consumerism, and how we can change our everyday choices to reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact.
  • The Sustainability Pavilion. It features irrigation techniques such as a greywater recycling system, which aim to reduce water use by 75 per cent.
    The Sustainability Pavilion. It features irrigation techniques such as a greywater recycling system, which aim to reduce water use by 75 per cent.
  • The Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion features the world’s largest passenger lift, which will transport more than 160 people at a time. It also has a 340-metre track, which is partly underground and partly in the open-air, to showcase cutting-edge mobility devices in action.
    The Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion features the world’s largest passenger lift, which will transport more than 160 people at a time. It also has a 340-metre track, which is partly underground and partly in the open-air, to showcase cutting-edge mobility devices in action.
  • The Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion will also display a hyperloop capsule in action.
    The Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion will also display a hyperloop capsule in action.
  • Organisers say the Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion will showcase how mobility will continue to transform the way we live, connect with people, understand different cultures, and exchange knowledge and ideas.
    Organisers say the Expo 2020 Mobility Pavilion will showcase how mobility will continue to transform the way we live, connect with people, understand different cultures, and exchange knowledge and ideas.
  • Al Wasl Pavilion. Meaning ‘connection’ in English, Al Wasl is also the historical name for Dubai. The steel trellis is the centrepiece of the site, where all roads meet, and reflects the world fair’s aim to bring people together.
    Al Wasl Pavilion. Meaning ‘connection’ in English, Al Wasl is also the historical name for Dubai. The steel trellis is the centrepiece of the site, where all roads meet, and reflects the world fair’s aim to bring people together.
  • The Al Wasl pavillion. The moulded steel dome is 130-metres wide, 67-metres tall and weighs more than 500 tonnes. Taller than the leaning tower of Pisa and one of the largest single structures on the site, Al Wasl will be a permanent installation that will remain after the world fair ends in April 2021.
    The Al Wasl pavillion. The moulded steel dome is 130-metres wide, 67-metres tall and weighs more than 500 tonnes. Taller than the leaning tower of Pisa and one of the largest single structures on the site, Al Wasl will be a permanent installation that will remain after the world fair ends in April 2021.
  • A rendering of Al Wasl pavillion. Fountains, parks and restaurants have also been planned across the plaza area.
    A rendering of Al Wasl pavillion. Fountains, parks and restaurants have also been planned across the plaza area.
  • Al Wasl pavillion. Al Wasl Plaza’s trellis design was inspired by an ancient golden ring found in the Saruq Al Hadid site by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. It also reflects the intertwined logo of the Expo 2020.
    Al Wasl pavillion. Al Wasl Plaza’s trellis design was inspired by an ancient golden ring found in the Saruq Al Hadid site by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. It also reflects the intertwined logo of the Expo 2020.
  • Dubai Exhibition Centre. It offers 45,000 square metres of event space. It is just 300m from the heart of the Expo site and is adjacent to the Dubai Metro Route Station 2020.
    Dubai Exhibition Centre. It offers 45,000 square metres of event space. It is just 300m from the heart of the Expo site and is adjacent to the Dubai Metro Route Station 2020.
  • Dubai Exhibition Centre.The 28,000 sqm South Complex is divided into nine halls that can host 300 to 20,000 people, while the 17,000 sqm North Complex has five halls that can accoodate 200 to 11,000 people.
    Dubai Exhibition Centre.The 28,000 sqm South Complex is divided into nine halls that can host 300 to 20,000 people, while the 17,000 sqm North Complex has five halls that can accoodate 200 to 11,000 people.
  • Dubai Exhibition Centre. It also has 24 meeting rooms and four suites for workshops, seminars and gala dinners.
    Dubai Exhibition Centre. It also has 24 meeting rooms and four suites for workshops, seminars and gala dinners.
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