Spreading Our Inimitable Irish Christmas Spirit Across The World – ‘To Be Irish’ Goes Live 

With a vision to connect the 70M Irish diaspora living all across the world this Chrismtas, To Be Irish At Christmas 2021 goes live today (8th December) featuring over 170 in-person, hybrid, and online events, nostalgic Irish recipes and extraordinary stories from Irish people living across the world.

Enjoy the mesmerizing cello playing of Patrick Dexter (Thu 9 Dec) who brought comfort for people all around the world during lockdown right from outside his cottage in Mayo and alongside Soda Blonde’s lead singer Faye O’Rourke from the The Pepper Canister Church in Dublin (Tue 14 & Thu 23 Dec ). Hear what makes Ireland special in a series of interviews with successful Irish women abroad ‘in their home away from home’ including pioneering NASA Datanut Fionnghuala ‘Fig’ O’Reilly, crowned Miss Universe Ireland 2019  (Sat 11 Dec), Samantha Barry, Editor in Chief of Glamour (Wed 15 Dec), and Sherlock actress Yasmine Akram (Mon 20 Dec). 

As there’s nothing quite as magical as Christmas storytelling; conjure the magic with a series of storytelling videos including A Hug for you with Adam King (Sat 11 Dec), Tree Dogs Banshee Fingers and Other Irish Words for Nature with Manchán Magan (Sun 12 Dec), Rescuing Titanic with Flora Delargy (Sat 18 Dec) and Girls Play Too: Inspiring Stories of Irish Sportswomen with sports broadcaster Jacqui Hurley (Sun 19 Dec) celebrating the success and real-life stories of women who have proved that gender is no barrier to sporting prowess or success.

Crossing the country in ‘A Lift home’ series, join hip hop artists God Knows & MuRli (Wed 8 Dec) and TebiRex (Mon 13 Dec) as they buckle up, take a spin, and share authentic conversations while travelling across iconic Irish landscapes in Kerry, Limerick and Dublin.

And declaring our unifying love for Ireland,  the site is filled with hundreds of stories and memories shared by Irish people all around the world including contributions from the Irish Defence Forces, Irish Embassies and Consulates and individuals such as  member of Grammy nominated Celtic Woman Tara McNeill and Robert L. Harris, warden of Skellig Michael since 1987 and author of Returning Light: 30 Years of Life on Skellig Michael. 

But nothing quite conjures up the feeling of home as Christas dinner. Enjoy recipes from the ‘ultimate nostalgic Irish Christmas recipe book’ To Bia Irish at Christmas and featuring Catherine Fulvio’s roast duck, Anna Haugh’s favourite seasonal starter,  Graham Herterich’s (The Cupcake Bloke) show-stopping chocolate orange pavlova and Eunice Power’s Christmas Pudding.  

Launched last week by the Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy, T.D, ToBeIrish.ie is built around a dedicated online platform and celebrates and upholds the special connections between the Irish at home and abroad in the run-up to Christmas, despite the impact of the Covid pandemic.  It is about reaching out to our diaspora at one of the most important times of the year.

The portal also shares  Christmas celebrations happening at home and all around the world. Irish citizens whether or not they are planning to travel home this year are invited to connect with their local community, wherever that may be. On home shores, in Dublin, visit Winterfest at the iconic Guinness Storehouse, check out Blot’s Most Marvellous Historical Guide to Printing Books at the National Print Museum, or enjoy some lunchtime theatre with Dinner in Mulberry Street at Bewley’s Cafe Theatre. Visit festive Christmas markets around the country, like Christmas at Limerick Milk Market, Malachy’s Farmer’s Market in Feigh Quin,  Co. Clare, or the Thurles Farmer’s Market. And of course there are plenty of pantomimes on offer, including The Snow Queen in Mullingar, Aladdin in Cork and Jack and the Beanstalk in Dublin. 

Looking further afield, in Colombia, Irish citizens in Bogotá can gather for a Christmas Get Together while A Celtic Christmas, now in its 25th year, is spreading Irish Christmas cheer to various cities in the United States. Residents of Zagreb, Croatia can enjoy a magical Irish Christmas choir concert in Maksimir Park, and in Germany, The Embassy of Ireland in Berlin hosts an online screening of The Busk which follows Glen Hansard and some of the most memorable live music performances ever seen on Irish streets. For those interested in other events around the world, log onto the portal to see what’s happening in your area. 

Follow the conversation on social media; Twitter @ToBeIrish | Instagram  Facebook  TikTok @ToBeIrish.ie | YouTube.

#ToBeIrish #IrishAtChristmas #Éireannach #ÉireannachUmNollaig

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For more information please contact THE HIVE Agency

Kerryann Conway: kerryann@thehiveagency.ie | 086 821 5246