Irish culture will take center stage at various locations throughout Switzerland from 11 to 17 March, 2024. Readings, dance events and exhibitions have been organized around the “St. Patrick’s Day” festival on 17 March.
The tourism organization Tourism Ireland Switzerland has proclaimed “Ireland Week” with various regional partners. The Irish holiday, “St. Patrick’s Day”, celebrates Irish culture on March 17; festivities are very much alive, not only in Ireland but also in many regions in Switzerland. According to the Irish embassy, around 9,000 Irish ex-pats live in Switzerland.
March 17 traditionally honors the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. The party of the year is celebrated throughout the country with colorful parades, green clothing and lots of music. “We hope that by raising the awareness of Irish traditions in Switzerland, we will contribute to cultural exchange and also encourage people to discover the island of Ireland for themselves,” says Tourism Ireland. In Basel, for example, St. Patrick’s Day can be celebrated at the Basel Irish Club in the Zunfthaus Zur Safran.
From musical readings to a Gaelic football tournament
The Ireland Week program is a colourful one. On International Women’s Day (8 March), three dynamic women will play music, tell stories and give travel tips about Ireland at the Karl der Grosse Center in Zurich’s Niederdorf district. A reading with musical accompaniment will be performed at the same location titled “Ireland – A Literary Journey”.
The James Joyce Foundation is hosting the exhibition “Cultural Belongings: Poetry of Gerald Dawe”. The organizers in Zurich, Basel and other cities will also be hosting various dance events, workshops, a play and a Gaelic football tournament.
All events by date and region can be found here.