Liam Neeson wishes you happy St. Patrick’s Day. And while the celebrated Irish actor and Ireland ambassador acknowledges that this year’s event will be “(he pauses somberly) a little quieter,” he points out that celebrations of the country’s national day will “never cease” and that “wherever you are in the world, as long as you have a piece of Ireland in your heart, you are celebrating with us!”

Neeson’s message, delivered in a video on behalf of Tourism Ireland (available on YouTube), is just one of a number of tourist board initiatives today (March 17) and this week designed to celebrate the annual day of all things Irish, which has been severely curtailed by the COVID pandemic.

In this country, Tourism Ireland says it simply wants to bring a little “positivity, hope, and some fun to the almost 5 million Canadians who claim links to the island of Ireland,” and, at same time, invite all others to keep the Emerald Isle top of mind during a period when people cannot travel.

And while celebrating in your heart is the theme for 2021, Tourism Ireland is still shining a ‘green light’ on some other, more tangible ways of celebrating the day.

In addition to the welcome video featuring Neeson, the Irish at heart can take part in the following St. Patrick’s Day at Home events:

Global Greening

2021 marks the 12th year of Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening initiative where famous attractions and sites around the world go green to mark St Patrick’s Day. Thirty-plus locations across Canada are going ‘green’ for St Patrick’s Day, including Niagara Falls, CN Tower, The Giant Beaver, World’s Largest Hockey Stick and Puck, Calgary Tower and The Big Fiddle, among many others. Tourism Ireland suggests joining the global celebration by lighting a green candle and sharing using #GlobalGreening.

Global greening, Rio de Janeiro

At Home

A fun filled St Patrick’s Day party will be broadcast live today (March 17) from three popular pubs in Dublin, Belfast and Dingle in County Kerry, bringing music, Irish dancing, special guests, and a few surprises right into viewers’ living rooms. Starting at 5:30 p.m. EST, the St. Patrick’s Day bash, along with other at-home opportunities can be found HERE.

For Agents

Travel agents are invited to join Tourism Ireland’s “Ireland Insiders” Canadian Facebook page for access to a host of content for distribution to consumers in celebration of St Patrick’s Day.

Watch the short video “5 St Patrick’s Day Facts”.