St. Patrick’s Festival was established by the Government of Ireland in November 1995.
The principal aim of St. Patrick’s Festival, since its inauguration, is to develop a major annual international festival around the national holiday over which the ‘owners’ of the festival, the Irish people, would stand proud. It sets out to reflect the talents and achievements of Irish people on many national and world stages, and it acts as an exciting showcase for the manifold skills of the people of Ireland, of every age and social background.
As the one national holiday that is celebrated in more countries around the world than any other, St. Patrick’s Day is the day when everyone wants to be Irish.
We set out to seize that opportunity, and completely transform the national and international perception of St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin. This country is bursting with the kind of creative energy, ideas and enthusiasm required to do the job. Our job has been to harness them, and make our national holiday an unforgettable experience for all.
GOVERNANCE
St. Patrick’s Festival is governed by a voluntary board of Directors, see a list of Directors on the Team page.
St. Patrick’s Festival is committed to good governance and the organisation complies with all regulatory requirements and operates in accordance with its governing document, available here.
Memoandarts2.pdf
St. Patrick’s Festival keeps detailed books and records of accounts and maintains strict financial controls. The organisation is transparent in its audited financial statements, with most recent statements (2015) available here
Audited_accounts_2015_CRA_Upload.pdf.
http://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/info
Why was it started?
- To offer a national festival that ranks amongst all of the greatest celebration in the world.
- To create energy and excitement throughout Ireland via innovation, creativity, grassroots involvement, and marketing activity.
- To provide the opportunity and motivation for people of Irish descent (and those who sometimes wish they were Irish) to attend and join in the imaginative and expressive celebrations.
- To project, internationally, an accurate image of Ireland as a creative, professional and sophisticated country with wide appeal.
The first St. Patrick’s Festival was held over one day, and night, on March 17th 1996, it has since grown to a 4-5 day celebration.
Other interesting link:
St. Patrick's Day (Saint Patrick's Day, irl. Lá 'le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig) - Irish national and religious holiday celebrated on March 17. It is named after Saint Patrick, the saint patron of Ireland.
St. Patrick's Day is a day off from work in Ireland, Northern Ireland Newfoundland and Labrador. The most important tradition of celebrations of St. Patrick's Day is wearing clothes in green. Green is the national color of Ireland, referring to the grassy landscape of the island and shamrock traditionally attributed to St. Patrick. Irish in many cities organize festivals and street parades, in which dominates just green.
Saint Patrick's Day is widely recognized and also celebrated in the United States. It is observed as a celebration of Irish and Irish-American culture. Celebrations include religious observances, numerous parades, eating and drinking. The holiday is celebrated on the North American continent since the late eighteenth century.
https://www.calendar-12.com/holidays/saint_patricks_day/2017
St. Patrick's Day in the United States
St Patrick's Day, on March 17, remembers one of Ireland’s patron saints, St Patrick. It largely celebrates Irish-American culture in the United States.
Celebrate St Patrick's Day
Celebrations concentrate on Irish themed parties, drinks and food. Many people get into the spirit by dressing in green clothing and eating green colored food. Irish clubs and pubs often hold parties or have special deals. Large street parades mark St Patrick's Day in places like:
- Savannah
- Chicago
- Boston
- Houston
- Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh
- Denver
- Detroit
- Toronto
- New York
- New Orleans
- Seattle
