Mr. Brian Hayes, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW)
today announced details of the greening of iconic State buildings to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
This is a Government-wide initiative, which followed discussions with Minister for Transport,
Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar.
Minister Hayes said: “The OPW manages a substantial number of Historic Properties and National Monuments around the country and what better way to celebrate the upcoming St. Patrick’s Festival, than to turn our most iconic buildings green. We are delighted to lead the way in ‘greening’ the city’s finest buildings and the nation’s most famous heritage sites and landmark monuments in Kerry, Meath and Tipperary. In this year of The Gathering, it is wonderful to see global landmarks such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro turn green to celebrate our national holiday. All over the world, people will turn their attention to Ireland on 17th March and we are delighted to help ensure that the country is shown in the best light possible; in this case a festive green!”
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For further information or if you wish to interview Minister of State Hayes, please contact Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer at 046 9426128 or 087 9475552 or colette.davis@opw.ie
Note to editors: The OPW will be illuminating State building and heritage sites for the duration of the St. Patrick’s Festival (14th - 18th March). The ‘greening’ will be carried out by using green filters, specialist lamps and where available, existing lighting control systems. The following are the building/sites that will be transformed for the four-day celebration:
1. Leinster House (Merrion St side and Kildare St side).
2. Government Buildings
3. Dept. Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation (Kildare St.)
4. National Gallery (Merrion St. side)
5. Dublin Castle Lower Yard (Part of the Chapel Royal & Palace St. Entrance)
6. Dublin Castle Upper Yard (2 Statues & Clock Tower)
7. Four Courts
8. Custom House
9. Casino Marino
10. Marlborough Street Complex
11. National Concert Hall (NCH)
12. Entrance to St. Stephen’s Green (Grafton St. Corner)
13. Entrance to St. Stephen’s Green (Shelbourne Hotel Corner)
14. Collins Barracks (Front facing River Liffey)
15. Royal Hospital Kilmainham (RHK) – Clock tower
16. Natural History Museum
17. Rock of Cashel
18. Phoenix Park – Wellington Monument
19. Phoenix Park – Phoenix Monument
20. Áras an Uachtaráin
21. Farmleigh – Water Tower
22. Iveagh House
23. War Memorial Park (Cross and 2 Fountains)
24. Ross Castle, Co. Kerry
25. Trim Castle, Co. Meath
26. Cahir Castle, Co. Tipperary
27. Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square