Donegal Minister Charlie McConalogue is to travel to Canada to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
Minister McConalogue is one of 33 government ministers to travel abroad to promote Ireland this March 17th. It is the first time in two years that the Taoiseach and senior and junior ministers have travelled overseas for the occasion.
Minister McConalogue’s business in Canada will centre around the ‘Global Ireland’ programme of promoting Ireland as a great place to live, visit, work, study, and invest.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin is set to visit London and Washington, while the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will head to Columbia and Chile.
The central message of this year’s St Patrick’s Day is that Ireland is reopening, and the international programme will focus on the theme of Rebuilding Connections & Supporting Communities across the globe.
The ‘Global Greening’ initiative will continue this year too, with over 600 iconic landmark buildings around the world planned to be lit up green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
In this centenary year of the foundation of the State, and as Ireland marks the fiftieth anniversary of accession to the EEC, visiting Ministers are set to underline Ireland’s commitment to the European Union, reinforce Ireland’s commitment to protecting the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland, and celebrate the country’s heritage and links with global Diaspora and business leaders.