St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is the 17th of March. It is the national day of Ireland and is a global celebration of what it means to be Irish. Perhaps best known for the St. Patrick's Day parades, it is the feast of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

Every year, from Cape Town to Johannesburg and plenty of locations in between, there are great celebrations of all things Irish on St. Patrick's Day itself - March 17th - and in the days and weeks around it. The Embassy participates in and organises many special events and uses the opportunity to promote Ireland.

St. Patrick’s Day is a global celebration of what it means to be Irish; the spirit, the determination, the creativity and that indefinable something that makes us who we are. Ireland is capable of great things and every year, the Embassy uses St. Patrick’s Day to show the world just what we can do.

Growing our economy

The focus on Ireland on St. Patrick's Day gives us a valuable opportunity to show the world that this country is open for business and to underline the close trade links between South Africa and Ireland. We encourage the building of relationships, investment and tourism.

Sharing our culture

We celebrate our rich culture and heritage and we’re proud of its influence on world literature, art and music. St. Patrick’s Day is a great chance for us to share our culture with others, especially in countries where there's less awareness of Ireland. Embassy events showcase Irish culture wherever possible, with a particular focus on Irish music and dance.

Saying thank you

St. Patrick's Day is a great time for Ireland to engage with and thank long-standing partners, friends, voluntary and community organisations and Irish communities around the world for their ongoing support and the contributions they make to this country.