Edinburgh Castle to go green for St Patrick’s Day
The Scottish Government has announced that Edinburgh Castle will be illuminated in green on St Patrick’s Day this year, as part of the ‘Global Greening’ initiative. The Castle now joins a long and impressive list of iconic buildings and landmarks around the world that have gone and will go green for our National Day including the Colosseum in Rome, the Great Wall of China, and of course more landmarks in Scotland.
This is great news for the Consulate, the Embassy in London, Tourism Ireland, and for all of us who work to strengthen and deepen the bonds of friendship between Ireland and Scotland.
The announcement, which was made this morning in Dublin by Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop, follows discussions between the Consulate and the Scottish Government and the recent visit to Edinburgh by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan. The Minister welcomed the news this morning, saying:
“I very much appreciate this generous gesture from the Scottish Government. The addition of such a landmark to the already impressive list of iconic locations going green on St Patrick’s Day is another important moment in the friendship between Ireland and Scotland and literally highlights our ever-strengthening links. The theme for my recent visit to Edinburgh was embarking on a ‘new chapter’ in Irish-Scottish relations. Today’s announcement is a really significant and visible way to underline that.”
Cabinet Secretary Hyslop said:
“Turning one of Scotland’s most iconic buildings green for St Patrick’s Day is a fitting way to show the importance we place on our relationship with Ireland, and a celebration of the friendship which exists between our two nations.
“Our economic links with Ireland, our work together in the European Union, and the shared value we place on our membership of that union, show how much we have to gain from strengthening our relationship.
“Irish investment makes a substantial contribution to Scotland’s economy. Irish-owned companies in Scotland are responsible for nearly 6,000 jobs and turnover of £2.4 billion, while Scottish exports to Ireland are worth £815 million a year.
“Ireland and Scotland have different identities and experiences, but we are united by elements of shared history, culture and language - and so it’s appropriate that Edinburgh Castle, with its important place in Scotland’s history and culture, goes green for St Patrick’s Day.”
The announcement follows a spate of Ministerial exchanges between Ireland and Scotland. Four Scottish Government Ministers have visited Ireland so far in 2015, and two members of the Irish Cabinet, Minister Flanagan and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Alex White travelled to Scotland in February. More Irish Ministers will visit Scotland in March. The business, culture and people-to-people relationships are also thriving, and there is a strong sense of energy, dynamism and positivity as March 17th approaches.
The Castle will look stunning on the evening and night of March 17th. Likewise, in Glasgow, the Clyde Auditorium and the SSE Hydro will again be looking great in green this year. We hope you have the opportunity to see these sites on our National Day. It will be a proud day to be Irish in Scotland.