COVID-19 continues to pause travel to the island, but you can still enjoy virtual St. Patrick’s Day events
by Jen Murphy, AARP, March 15, 2021
Cobh, Ireland
When the pandemic eases and Americans start exploring again, Tourism Ireland is hoping the Emerald Isle will be at the top of their travel bucket lists.
The United States is Ireland’s second-largest source of visitors, after Great Britain: The country welcomed 1.7 million people from the U.S. in 2019 — up 71 percent from 2014. And those visitors infused nearly $2 billion into the economy.
“The U.S. market is Ireland’s most important source of overseas revenue,” says Alison Metcalfe, executive vice president of Tourism Ireland for the U.S. and Canada.
And a virtual pub night, streamed live from three of Ireland’s most beloved pubs, will be broadcast March 17, complete with performances from the Shamrock Tenors and two members of Riverdance.
There’s also a virtual St. Patrick’s Day festival airing from Dublin this week, “Awaken Ireland!,” with loads of cultural events you can stream online.
Source: What Travelers Can Expect When Ireland’s Tourism Rebounds