National Day of Ireland

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Irish people celebrate their National Day today which commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. This holiday celebrates the culture heritage of the Irish in general.

It was believed that St. Patrick used the shamrock, which is a threeleaved plan, to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the pre- Christian Irish people. Thus, shamrocks and “the wearing of the green” ribbons are notable symbols in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day which can be traced as early as the 17th century.

St. Patrick’s Day is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland and a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland. A St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the major highlights of the holiday which draws thousands of people marching throughout Dublin, the country’s capital. Other highlights to look forward to this 2015 include the return of the National Day’s hugely popular and distinguished cultural program “I Love My City”; Treasure Hunt which showcases Ireland’s beautiful and historical locations; and Big Day Out which features a street carnival, aerial shows, and concerts.

The biggest celebration outside Dublin is held in Downpatrick, where St. Patrick is believed to be buried. In the mid- 1990s, the Irish government began using St. Patrick’s Day to promote the country and its culture around the world. This campaign became successful and drew around one million foreign visitors. St. Patrick’s Day is also a public holiday in Montserrat. In Canada, the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland), Australia, the United States, Argentina, and New Zealand, it is widely celebrated but is not an official holiday.

We congratulate the people and government of the Republic of Ireland led by President Michael D. Higgins, and Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny, on the occasion of its National Day.