St Patrick's Day at Expo
St. Patrick’s Day hits Expo 2020! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to join us for the St. Patrick’s Festival, 15-17 March. Team Ireland’s comprehensive programme will see a range of business, culture, sport, screen and community events at Expo from 15th March, with an incredible line up for St. Patrick’s Day itself.
St. Patrick’s Day provides a special opportunity to share the best of Irish culture and heritage with our friends around the world and there is no place better to do so than Expo 2020 Dubai. Team Ireland extends a warm invitation to you all – bring your families, friends, neighbours and colleagues. Whether you are in the Irish community, or wish to be Irish for the day, we look forward to welcoming you as our special guests to Expo this year for this unique St. Patrick’s Festival.
All events listed below are included in your Expo pass and are suitable for all ages. No prior registration or booking is required (except for the business breakfast and Maeve Madden workout, via Glofox app). All are welcome to join us for this once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Expo 2020 Dubai!
15 and 16 March:
Irish animation is a huge success around the world, demonstrating the best of Ireland’s creativity and innovation. The Ireland Pavilion is partnering with Screen Ireland and the Galway Film Fleadh to showcase an extensive and eclectic range of Irish animated films across Expo. Cartoon Saloon have created a special edit from some of their major, Oscar nominated, films (including Wolfwalkers, Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea) which will be shown in the iconic 360 degree Al Wasl Plaza. Screenings will be enhanced by a series of events with leading figures in the Irish film, animation and scoring industries, highlighting Ireland’s successes and unique offering in these fields, including electrifying live performances by the world-renowned Irish fusion group, Kíla.
Morning of Thursday 17 March:
Dubai Irish Business Network business breakfast – the IBN will be hosting their iconic St. Patrick’s Day business breakfast at Expo and we will be sure to give you a warm welcome and a stimulating, memorable morning. A keynote address will be delivered by Minister Darragh O’Brien. Pre-registration for this event is required. For full details, see Home - IBN Dubai (ibnuae.com)
Al Wasl National Day ceremony – Expo 2020 Dubai will host a programme of National Day events for Ireland, including a ceremony and cultural performance at Al Wasl Plaza, the jewel of Expo 2020 Dubai with an Irish delegation led by Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and representatives of the UAE Government.
Afternoon of 17 March:
St. Patrick’s Day Parade – No St. Patrick’s Day would be complete without a parade! The participation of the Irish community and friends of Ireland is at the heart of the St. Patrick’s Festival at Expo 2020. A St. Patrick’s Day parade at Expo 2020 will be led by Irish Defence Force Pipers, all are welcome! Make sure to wear your finest green outfit!
Cartoon Saloon animation mashup and National Day flag takeover in Al Wasl
Sport and Family Fun Day – TheIreland Pavilion will partner with Sport Ireland to deliver a sporting element to St. Patrick’s Festival at Expo that will excite and energise the Irish and wider Expo community, placing an emphasis on health and wellbeing. The local Irish sporting community (including GAA and soccer) will come together for a special family-fun day, with Irish sporting heroes as guests of honour. Following the success and excitement generated by Riverdance at Expo, a prominent Dubai Irish Dancing School will also participate, demonstrating sport’s many forms.
Fitness Class – The fun extends to family members of all ages as prominent Irish sport and fitness personality Maeve Madden will lead a once-off outdoor, free fitness class that will draw crowds. These events will be held at Expo’s state of the art Sports Arena and Festival Park.
Expo Players – The musical heart of Ireland’s presence at Expo, the Ireland Pavilion’s Expo Players, will animate the Pavilion Courtyard throughout the day, performing Irish music and tracks from the Irish Songbook. The Expo players are drawn from a deep well of Irish musical talent to introduce audiences to Irish music, its history, instruments and stories.
Launch of the Irish Songbook album – The Irish Songbook is a special project for Expo focused on iconic Irish songs, in collaboration with the National Concert. It comprises 55 songs in total and culminates in an album recording and international release of a selection of 10 songs from the Irish Songbook for Saint Patrick’s Day 2022.
Evening of 17 March:
Gala Concert – The Ireland Pavilion will partner with the Irish National Concert Hall to deliver a range of cultural performances for St. Patrick’s Day at Expo. This includes a specially curated concert by world-renowned Irish instrumentalist, Martin Hayes that reflects the breadth and vibrancy of modern Irish music and feature some of Ireland’s finest musicians. Ireland will have an exciting opportunity to stage a musical performance in the special Al Wasl Plaza, inclusive of an immersive, bespoke audio-visual show.
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