Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland

03/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/12/2026 10:32

Minister McEntee launches St Patrick’s Day campaign celebrating the global reach of Ireland

Press release

Minister McEntee launches St Patrick's Day campaign celebrating the global reach of Ireland

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, has launched a St Patrick's Day digital media campaign celebrating the international reach of Ireland and the themes of connection and hope at a time of global turbulence.

In this year's St Patrick's Day video, Irish people living in various locations around the world perform a rendition of Kodaline's iconic "High Hopes" track, accompanied by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Loah.

From Senegal to Argentina, and Croatia to Japan, the video showcases a diverse range of Irish talent and captures moments of everyday kindness and community spirit.

It also features Irish football hero Troy Parrott ahead of Ireland's World Cup play-off against Czechia on 26 March, 2026.

Speaking this morning, Minister McEntee said: "This St Patrick's Day, I am pleased to pay a special tribute to Irish people and our global diaspora. From every corner of the globe, their talent, kindness, and community spirit reflect the very best of what it means to be Irish and we honour their achievements. The contributions of our Irish abroad are even more noteworthy for the turmoil and challenges being experienced by so many around the world at this time."

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, commented: "It is terrific to see voices from across Europe feature in our St. Patrick's Day communications and messaging this year. 2026 is a huge year for Ireland in Europe, as we prepare to take on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July until December. We hope St. Patrick's Day this year will showcase the strengths of our Irish communities across Europe and the huge contribution so many of our people make to the cultural, educational, business and political landscapes in the countries where they have established themselves."

Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, said: "I have been privileged to engage with Irish communities across the world in my role as Minister for the Diaspora and it is superb to see the diversity, talents and breadth of Irish voices internationally reflected in our St. Patrick's Day video this year. We are deeply conscious that this is a turbulent and unsettling time for very many people globally, including certain Irish communities abroad - the message of hope and the importance of connection is critical at times like these, as we all work towards a brighter tomorrow."

The video can be viewed on the social media channels of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the following links:

Notes

A full list of singing contributors in the video is detailed below.

BLÁNID, United Kingdom

Brian Cullen, Japan

Caitlin Kelly, Senegal

Chris Wong, Germany

Eileen Laverty, Canada

Francesca Federico Ó Murchú, United States of America

Liv Monaghan, France

Loah, Ireland

Louise Phelan, Mexico

Maggie Carty, Australia

Rowina Casey, Argentina

Stephen Breslin, Croatia

Toshín, Germany

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland published this content on March 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 12, 2026 at 16:32 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]