Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening started in 2010, when the Sydney Opera House was illuminated in green to mark the 200th anniversary of the first reception held in 1810 for Irish ex-pats by Governor Lachlan Maquarie in New South Wales.
Global Greening Suspended Due to Ukraine Situation
Over the last 12 years, the project has captured the world’s attention, with a record 725 global icons in 71 countries around the globe lighting up green last year. The project has galvanised Diaspora communities around the globe and reminded us all of the importance of what it means to be Irish on St. Patricks Day.
2022 is a very different year and as a mark of respect to the situation in Ukraine, Tourism Ireland has taken the decision not to promote the Global Greening initiative for St Patrick’s Day.
Normal promotional activity around St Patrick’s Day will continue as part of the organisation’s overall marketing programme to restart overseas tourism this year, for an industry that has faced extremely difficult circumstances since the Covid-19 pandemic started in 2020.
Tourism Ireland looks forward to rolling out its biggest ever Global Greening promotional programme again in what we hope will be a more peaceful world in 2023. We would like to thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora groups around the globe, who have been valued partners in this project.