Putting solidarity at the heart of St. Patrick's Day

As a country that values its relationships across the world, St. Patrick’s Day is an unrivalled opportunity to promote Ireland’s values globally.

Central to this is strengthening our ties with countries where we support our partners to deliver life-changing development programmes.

Investing in development and humanitarian assistance is central to Ireland’s work around the world. St. Patrick’s Day saw several Government Ministers visit communities and partners supported by Irish Aid.

Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, visited Mozambique and South Africa, two countries where Ireland has a long history of supporting important development programmes.

In Mozambique, Minister Richmond visited healthcare, education and livelihoods programmes supported by Irish Aid.

“Supporting maternal and child health is a top priority and we met the staff and patients at the Maxixe Health Centre,” said Minister Richmond. “From there we visited 01 de Junho primary school for an amazing tour of their new classrooms built with funds from Irish Aid. We then visited the international potato centre, meeting agronomists and farmers who have increased the local yield by 63%.”

In South Africa, the Minister visited a youth programme that uses sport, workshops and mentoring to help young men build healthier relationships and challenge traditional harmful norms.

He also visited Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela and many others were incarcerated.

“The solidarity Ireland displayed during the dark days of apartheid is well known across South Africa and underpins our partnership today,” he said.

Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, visited Ukraine, Moldova and Poland. Ireland has provided vital humanitarian support to the Ukrainian people, including those who have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries in response to Russia’s ongoing war.

Minister Byrne met with civil society leaders in Ukraine to discuss Ireland’s ongoing support.

“I consider my St Patrick’s Day visit to Ukraine to be a reflection of Ireland’s steadfast and unbreakable solidarity with Ukraine and its people,” he said.

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers, visited Senegal, home of one of Ireland’s newest embassies in Africa.

Minister Chambers met with several development partners in Senegal, including UN agencies. He visited a number of youth-focused programmes that support young people to improve their livelihoods in the face of worsening climate change. He also saw how Irish Aid’s work is supporting women in Senegal.

Minister Chambers also visited Nigeria, officially opening Ireland’s new embassy building.

In Kenya and Tanzania, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, saw first-hand the impact Ireland’s partnership is having with communities in both countries.

While in Tanzania, Minister O’Sullivan met with Roots & Shoots – a movement of young, passionate individuals with a mission to better communities, protect wildlife and preserve the planet. Roots & Shoots is a programme run by the Jane Goodall Institute.

Minister O’Sullivan also visited the Children’s Cancer Care Unit at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, which provides life-saving services to children with cancer and their families with support from Ireland.

Minister of State for Sport, Charlie McConalogue, visited Vietnam, where Ireland provides assistance to the people left furthest behind across the region.

The Minister met with Ireland’s partners, including those who are providing vital nutrition services to children.

From Dakar to Hanoi, St. Patrick’s Day was an opportunity to highlight Ireland’s values of solidarity and partnership around the world.