World goes green as nation rejoices
The force is with Ireland as Star Wars legend Mark Hamill celebrates historic rugby victory with 450,000 St Patrick’s revellers in Dublin
THE world – or most of it – turned green yesterday as Ireland pummelled England on St Patrick’s Day to win their third Grand Slam in history.
While Tourism Ireland chalked up its biggest Global Greening event with a record-breaking 250 landmarks taking part, Joe Schmidt’s side delivered their own momentous first with a thrilling victory at Twickenham.
The squad, who hammered England 2415, return home to a heroes’ welcome at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road today.
A 30-minute presentation will be held at 4.30pm, according to the IRFU. Tickets to the event are free and went on sale at 6pm yesterday.
The historic sporting event was a major part of the day for the thousands of families, friends and visitors who attended parades around the country.
The match – and the unseasonably cold weather – had an impact on the numbers who flocked to the capital for yesterday’s traditional celebrations.
An estimated 450,000 people thronged the streets to cheer the parade led by Grand Marshal Liam Cunningham of Game Of Thrones fame.
And the force was truly with them as Star Wars actor Mark Hamill was the inaugural International Guest of Honour for this year’s festival.
Meanwhile, Tourism Ireland was celebrating its own major first with more than 250 sites around the world taking part in Global Greening.
As well as the big names such as the Empire State Building there were a number of unusual participants this year.
These included a blue whale skeleton called Hope at the Natural History Museum in London, a lion statue made from recycled flip-flops in Kenya and a lighthouse on a frozen Finnish lake.
When the initiative began nine years ago, just two landmarks – the Sydney Opera House and the Sky Tower in Auckland – took part.
A record 250 landmarks took part in Global Greening