St. Patrick's Day 2015

St. Patrick’s Day activities including visit of Minister of Business and Employment, Ged Nash to Sweden

A programme of all the varied activities that occurred across Sweden over the St. Patrick’s Day period is available. The Embassy would like to thank all those involved in planning, participating and supporting events over the period, particularly the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash visited Sweden from 14-18 March as part of the Government’s wider promotional activity to mark St. Patrick’s Day and to strengthen Ireland’s business, political and cultural ties with Sweden.‌

The Minister’s programme included meetings with senior Government representatives, as well as key businesses, including global telecommunications group Ericsson. The Ericsson Globe in Stockholm was lit up on the 12th of March as part of the global greening initiative aimed at increasing awareness and enhancing tourism links with Ireland.

Minister Nash met with Irish companies which are increasing their presence in Sweden such as ECOCEM, FEXCO, Mercury Engineering and Virtual Access. These are among 430 Irish-owned companies which export over €250 to Sweden annually. He also promoted Irish food and beverage exports which currently total €170m per year, with a particular focus on beef, through meetings with Swedish retailers and restaurateurs.

The Minister took part in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Stockholm on 15th March and addressed a reception hosted by the Irish Ambassador, Orla O’Hanrahan, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia, on 17th March at Stockholm’s Maritime Museum.

The Minister also officially launched an Ireland House in Stockholm, where the Embassy, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland and all located in the one office building strengthening Ireland’s presence here and ensuring closer cooperation and coordination of promotional activities. This event included the launch of “Capsule”, an exhibition on Irish design which will be travelling to a large number of destinations worldwide in 2015 as part of the ID2015, the year of Irish Design. Speaking about the exhibit, Minister Nash remarked “it is very apt that a country like Sweden renowned for its design is the starting point for this exhibition which presents two connected perspectives - Irish design that connects with the world, and design that is shaping modern Ireland.”