World set to go green once more for St Patrick’s Day with new landmarks and buildings added…
As we know 17th March, St Patrick’s Day is the day in which Ireland joyously celebrates its heritage and traditions in spectacular parades, fun and light-hearted revelry and also the day that the world joins in, in the celebrations and temporarily goes green. And over the past few years that saying has taken on a new dimension both literally and figuratively as not only do many people worldwide celebrate their Irish roots and Irish connections by donning a sprig of shamrock, wearing green and celebrating everything Irish for one day, but thanks to Operation Global Greening set-up in the past few years many of the worlds most noted landmarks and buildings temporarily glow literally green, with an emerald green light shone on them.
St Patrick’s Day celebrations now take on a colourful international flavour with the Global Greening initiative set-up by our tourism board which sees many of the worlds most famous and iconic landmarks take on a green hue thanks to specially placed lights. And this years St Patrick’s Day celebrations will add more iconic landmarks to the green mix. Iconic landmarks from 69 locations, in 20 countries around the world are due to join its Global Greening line-up.
Among the many noted venues set to take part and take a green hue this year are India’s iconic landmark the Taj Mahal and the ancient wonders of the world such as the pyramids at Giza, Egypt and the UNESCO World Heritage site Petra, in Jordan who this year are joining perennial favourites Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa and New Yorks Empire State Building, the Sydney Opera House, Disneyland Paris, the London Eye, the Princes Palace in Monaco and the welcome sign in Las Vegas. And it is not just limited to modern man made structures either, amongst the many more unusual natural landmarks to take on a green shade will be Niagara Falls lit green from both the American and Canadian sides and South Africa’s Table Mountain.
Going green in Britain this year were the HMS Belfast, the museum ship on the River Thames; the London Eye; the Armadillo, Glasgow; the clock on Manchester town hall; Anfield football stadium; and Selfridges department stores in Birmingham and London. (courtesy of Tourism Ireland)
And that is namely just a few of the worldwide icons to take on a temporary emerald hue, there are even more new more corporately inclined recruits added to the mix. Donald Trump, who has just purchased Doonbeg Golf Club in Co. Clare, will also be joining in the fun this year. His tower in Chicago will be go green for the first time, whilst another famous first timer to take part global greening this year, Disneyland Florida will see its Sleeping Beauty’s Castle take on the distinctive green glow.
The Global Greening is a recent initiative by Ireland to highlight our national holiday, promote Irish culture worldwide and encourage more trips to Ireland. It is set up to invite the honorary friends of Ireland and Irish culture from around world to join in the nations celebrations and festivities. As our Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore notes “each and every greening is an expression of friendship, as well as an open invitation to come to visit Ireland.” As the countdown to 17th March begins and we learn of more and more details surrounding the many upcoming St Patrick’s Day events, parades, festivals and activities happening nationwide, we will be keeping you posted on all things green and national holiday related.
‘Greening’ Niagara Falls; the ‘Welcome’ sign in Las Vegas; Massachusetts State House, Boston; the Coit Tower and City Hall, San Francisco; Pacific Science Center, Seattle; Houston City Hall, Texas; and the Empire State Building, New York. (Courtesy of Tourism Ireland)