VIDEO from Medialink and Tourism Ireland: St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin 13-17 March 2008
16/03/2008 21:29
PR Newswire
NEW YORK, March 16 /PRNewswire/ --
70 million people worldwide claim Irish heritage and the St. Patrick's
Festival is their opportunity to celebrate Ireland. The Feast of St. Patrick
is now celebrated in nearly every country throughout the world where Irish
descendents or influences have continued to reinforce its popularity. Among
the countries with strong traditions of celebrating St Patrick's Day are the
United States, Canada and Australia, but also France, Argentina, Russia,
Japan and even the Caribbean island of Montserrat.
(See video from Tourism Ireland at:
http://media.medialink.com/WebNR.aspx?story=34812)
But nobody does it quite like the Irish at home in Ireland! While the
rest of the world tuck in to Irish stew and Guinness, those in Ireland are
enjoying a 5-day feast of street theatre, music, dance, carnivals, fireworks,
food, film and parades.
The jewel in the Festival crown is the St. Patrick's Festival Parade on
17 March: a fantastical array of pageants delight the crowds of hundreds of
thousands in Dublin, adding colour, energy and excitement to parade 2008!
No one knows how to have the 'craic' like the Irish, and what better time
to start thinking about a trip to Ireland - log onto www.discoverireland.com
to whet your appetite.
ST. PATRICK FACTS
-- St. Patrick is largely credited with having converted the Pagan Irish
to Christianity.
-- Patrick was not actually Irish! He was born in Britain around 400 AD.
-- At the age of 15 or 16 Patrick was kidnapped by the Irish Pirate King,
Niall of the Nine Hostages and sold into slavery.
-- After 6 years Patrick escaped to England where within a decade he
became a bishop.
-- Patrick came back to Ireland in 432 to work as a Christian Missionary.
-- Patrick founded his first church in Ireland at Saul, outside
Downpatrick. It is still used today.
-- St. Patrick traditionally used the Shamrock (3-leafed clover) to
explain the concept of the holy trinity.
-- Legend has it that St. Patrick rid Ireland of snakes. In fact, Ireland
has never had snakes -- this possibly refers to his banishment of
Satan, often perceived as a serpent.
See www.discoverireland.com for more information.
Registered journalists can access video, audio, text, graphics and photos
for free and unrestricted use at http://www.mediaseed.tv.
03UK08-2008
Web site: http://www.discoverireland.com
Medialink, New York, +1-888-560-5578 or mediadesk@medialink.com