Varadkar & Hayes confirm buildings across Ireland to go green for St Patrick’s Day

More landmark buildings in Dublin and across Ireland will be turning green this year to mark St Patrick’s Day including the GPO, the Rock of Cashel, Trim Castle, Heuston Station and the National Gallery, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar and Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes have confirmed.

Details of the iconic buildings turning green this year were released today by the two Ministers, at the same time as buildings across the world prepare to go green including Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland, and the ancient stone city of Petra.

Minister Varadkar said: “This is the second year that Irish buildings have taken part in the global Greening and I hope we can make it a permanent feature of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations. With famous places across the world going green, I think it’s hugely important that our own landmarks also take part. Last year’s Irish Greening was a great success and really added to the atmosphere around St Patrick’s Day. It’s great to see new arrivals like the Kilkenny Castle and Ennis Friary, alongside the likes of the Rock of Cashel and Áras an Uachtaráin which featured in last year’s festival.”

Minister Hayes said: “I was delighted with the success of our involvement in Greening the City in 2013 for St Patrick’s Festival, not only in Dublin but in over 28 of our wonderful heritage properties all around the country. My office, the Office of Public Works, is again joining in the 2014 initiative and I look forward to seeing our State buildings illuminated in green over the course of the festivities.”

A total of 28 buildings under the remit of the OPW will take part in the Greening this year including the Rock of Cashel, Kilkenny Castle, Ross Castle in Killarney, and Ennis Friary. In Dublin they will include Áras an Uachtaráin, Leinster House, Government Buildings, the National Gallery, Dublin Castle, and the Four Courts. Many other public bodies have also confirmed their buildings will be taking part including Heuston and Connolly Stations, Dublin Airport, Busáras and local authorities across the country.

Five of these OPW buildings are taking part for the first time: Ennis Friary; Donegal Castle; Rathfarnham Castle; Kilkenny Castle; and 52 St Stephens Green (OPW Office).

Meanwhile the St Patrick’s Festival Company has engaged with the City Council and others to arrange for Trinity College, the GPO, the Mansion House and many more buildings to take part.