The annual ‘Global Greening’ initiative, now in its ninth year, has grown from strength to strength, with lots of new landmarks signing up to take part this year. 2018 sees the return of the Sydney Opera House and welcomes new additions like Optus Stadium Perth.
300+ stadiums, statues, museums and towers are also set to go green globally to celebrate our national day. New sites including the Yokohama Marine Tower in Japan, the National Football Museum in Manchester, as well as Vabaduse Väljak (Freedom Square) in Tallinn.
These new sites will join some ‘old favourites’ which have gone green in previous years – including the Colosseum in Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and the Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland® in Paris, the Sky Tower in Auckland, Niagara Falls and the London Eye.
Sofia Hansson, Manager Tourism Ireland, Australia and New Zealand said, "This is the ninth year of Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening initiative and each year I am delighted to see even more well-known attractions and landmark sites wishing to get involved and join our St Patrick’s celebrations. More than 70 million people around the world claim links to the island of Ireland and St Patrick’s Day is a truly unique opportunity to reconnect them with their heritage."
The biggest celebration takes place in Dublin, and Tourism Ireland is delighted to announce that Star Wars™ legend, Mark Hamill, will return to Ireland as International Guest of Honour of the St Patrick’s Festival Dublin. This new honorary role has been created to celebrate the achievements of those in the fields of business, arts, and the media who have a special connection with Ireland.
Nothing could be more special in 2018 than the connection Mark Hamill has with Ireland and its people after his captivating journey along the Wild Atlantic Way – from Skellig Michael to Cork and all the way up to Donegal – for the filming of the latest chapters in the Star Wars™ saga!
Big screen also meets small screen on St Patrick’s Day. While the Wild Atlantic Way provided the backdrop for Luke Skywalker over the last few years, Northern Ireland became Game of Thrones® Territory. Fans of the fantastical series will be thrilled to hear that Ser Davos Seaworth, AKA Irish actor Liam Cunningham, will also be taking part in the Festival. As Grand Marshal, Cunningham will lead Dublin’s festival parade through the streets of the city from 12pm on St Patrick’s Day, March 17th.
St Patrick's Day is held in honour of Ireland's patron saint and celebrates the diversity of culture and heritage on the island of Ireland as well as the famous friendliness of its people.
Fast Facts:
1. This year’s St Patrick’s Festival is on from March 15-19. The Parade in Dublin will see over 2,000 band members from far and wide delivering dazzling rhythms and uplifting music along the city’s streets.
2. Mark Hamill’s Irish roots reach back to his great-grandmother Elizabeth Keating, who was born in Kilkenny on 6th December 1873. She left Ireland for America when she was still a teenager.
3. To find out what other places in Ireland have been seen on screen, follow this trip.
4. Liam Cunningham hails from Dublin and is best known for his role as Davos Seaworth in Game of Thrones®. He is also known for his roles in The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Hunger, War of the Buttons, and his debut appearance in the Irish film, Into the West.
5. St Patrick is celebrated on March 17th as that marks the day he died. Patrick died in 461 in Saul, County Down, and this date is intended as a traditional day of spiritual renewal. Across St Patrick’s Country around Newry, Mourne and Down, the Home of Saint Patrick Festival celebrates the saint’s Christian heritage from March 9-18.
Australian Greenings
• Sydney Opera House
• Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney
• State Library of New South Wales
• Town Hall, Sydney
• The Big Kangaroo, Border Village
• The Big Banana, Coffs Harbour
• The Bell Tower, Perth
• Council House, Perth
• Elizabeth Quay, Perth
• Optus Stadium Perth
• QPAC in Brisbane
Assets:
Please find Australian ‘Greening’ images here. (Sydney Opera House 2018 images and Perth images will be uploaded on the evening of the 17th March 2018)
Playlist: Videos showing Star Wars™ Videos showing Star Wars™ in Ireland
Click here to see St Patrick’s Day celebrations on the island of Ireland and footage of the world turning green. Download footage and stills, here. ---
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