The world – or at least many of its most famous landmarks – is going green to mark St Patrick’s Day next month. From the Coliseum in Rome, to the Sacré-Coeur in Paris to Nashville’s famous Grand Ole Opry, there will be an emerald hue dominating come 17 March.

Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe (left) and Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan, at Tourism Ireland office in Dublin, as they unveil plans for global St Patrick's Day celebrations, announcing some of the landmarks and buildings around the world that will go green for the day

Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe (left) and Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan, at Tourism Ireland office in Dublin, as they unveil plans for global St Patrick’s Day celebrations, announcing some of the landmarks and buildings around the world that will go green for the day Image by Brian Lawless/PA Wire

And these are only the newest members of the Green Club. London’s Eye, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janerio and Niagara Falls have already shone the green torch in previous years.

Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe (left) and Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan (right) with Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, at Tourism Ireland office in Dublin, unveiling plans for global St Patrick's Day celebrations.

Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe (left) and Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan (right) with Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, at Tourism Ireland office in Dublin, unveiling plans for global St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Image by Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Across the world on that day the only colour is green– the Jumeirah Etihad Towers Hotel in Abu Dhabi and the Town Hall in Munich as well as the City Hall in Tbilisi all look good in emerald.

It’s all part of the Global Greening initiative being planned by Tourism Ireland as part of the celebrations surrounding St Patrick’s Day.

Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe (left) and Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan (right) with Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland

Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe (left) and Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan (right) with Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland Image by Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Paschal Donohoe, Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport said the global greening was a way of putting Ireland to the forefront of people’s minds in key overseas markets when choosing a holiday destination.