2017 Saint Patrick’s Day in Brussels
Saint Patrick’s Day commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is a time of celebration in Ireland and for all those of Irish descent and affinity around the world. The Embassy of Ireland will once again be leading the Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in Belgium.
The historic Cloth Hall in Ypres, the Citadel in Dinant, the Celtic Cross in Fontenoy and the magnificent Town Hall in Antwerp will all go green for the first time this year to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2017. The buildings join Brussels Grand Place and City Hall and Burg Square in Bruges in becoming part of Tourism Ireland’s ‘Global Greening’ in partnership with the Embassy of Ireland. These sites in Belgium join famous landmarks including the Colosseum in Rome, Burj al Arab in Dubai, and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro in going green as part of Tourism Ireland’s eighth annual Global Greening. The famous Manneken Pis statue in Brussels will also be dressed in an Irish costume as has become customary.
“St Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland in Belgium and I’m delighted that Antwerp, Ypres, Fontenoy, Brussels and Dinant are going green. I would encourage Belgians to consider Ireland when planning their 2017 holidays. Ireland has something to offer to everyone – a vibrant capital city, Dublin; over 5,000 years of history in Ireland’s Ancient East; Europe’s best attraction Titanic Belfast; and the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s first long-distance touring route, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Donegal to West Cork.” explained Éamonn Mac Aodha, Ambassador of Ireland to the Kingdom of Belgium
Where can you celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in Brussels?
The Irish ball
Saint Patrick’s Day will happen next Friday, March 17 but the celebrations already started in Brussels. Last Saturday the Embassy of Ireland to the Kingdom of Belgium celebrated together with the Irish community and friends from Ireland.
“The Irish living and working in Belgium are a very important expat community. It includes business people, officials working within the European Institutions in Brussels, students on university exchanges and Irish citizens who have decided to call Belgium home. We consider the Irish expat community as key in our strategy” explained Salvatore Orlando, Head of expatriates, BNP Paribas Fortis.
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