Tourism Ireland and Prime Travel Agency have announced a fun and friendly Irish day on Friday 12th March to celebrate St Patrick’s Day - Ireland’s national day of celebration. Taking place at the Covent Garden market, The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai between 12 noon – 7.30pm, the event will feature activities for children and families as Tourism Ireland paint a little corner of the UAE green for the day.

The day’s festivities will include a display of Irish dancing by Siobhan Kilalea’s Irish Dancing Group at 3.30pm. A resident of Dubai since 1987, Siobhan Kilalea has taught hundreds of children the principles of Irish dancing, bringing a Commissioner of Irish Dance over once a year to oversee dance examinations. The display at Tourism Ireland’s Family Day will showcase the fun, energy and precision of this centuries old tradition, whilst giving the Irish nationals in the crowd a little taste of home.

“The fun starts at midday, with children getting into the spirit of St Patrick’s Day with Irish-themed face painting at face-painting stalls, a treasure hunt at 2pm, and colouring activities for the smaller children, creating a festival atmosphere,” commented Aiveen Ryan, Market Manager, Tourism Ireland. “Covered in green balloons, the area will be hard to miss!”

Prime Travel will have their ‘Irish Experts’ available throughout the event giving visitors an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about holidays in Ireland.

Etihad Airways will also be present, further underlining its commitment to the Emerald Isle as the only carrier to offer direct flights to Ireland from the UAE at present. The airline will be offering a pair of Coral economy flights to Dublin, Ireland, for one lucky winner. The tickets will only be available to win in person at the event, on Friday 12th March. In addition, Tourism Ireland and Prime Travel will arrange 5-star hotel accommodation for the lucky winner, who will be able to enjoy the delights of Ireland for themselves.

Around the world, celebrations are taking place to mark St Patrick’s Day. In a major coup for Irish tourism, iconic buildings and attractions around the world including the Sydney Opera House, the London Eye, the Empire State Building and the CN Tower in Toronto, will ‘turn green’ for the day, in an initiative led by Tourism Ireland.

Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: “Over seventy million people around the world have links with the island of Ireland, and St Patrick’s Day is a truly unique opportunity to showcase our wonderful tourism product; the uniqueness of a holiday on the island, the diversity of our culture and heritage and the friendliness of our people, to a huge audience across the globe.

“We aim to bring a smile to the world. Allowing us to “green” such iconic buildings and attractions clearly illustrates the goodwill that the Ireland brand generates across the world. There has never been a better time to visit the island of Ireland.”

Commenting on the year ahead, Niall Gibbons said that Tourism Ireland’s mission in 2010 is to return overseas visitor numbers to growth. “We are aiming to grow visitor numbers by 3% this year – attracting an additional 230,000 visitors, with an overall target of 7.85 million for 2010. This outcome will mean that tourism to the island of Ireland will grow ahead of the competition. Our global website www.discoverireland.com received a record 13 million visits in 2009, which is most encouraging and illustrates a continued strong interest in the island of Ireland, despite the challenging environment. We aim to convert that interest into sales in 2010.”

The Walk at JBR has quickly emerged as one of the most distinctive and popular entertainment and shopping destinations in the UAE. The unique 1.7km outdoor shopping boulevard boasts 305 shops situated on both the plaza and ground levels. From its ideal location to its wide-ranging retail and dining options, The Walk at JBR offers a unique experience for every age and every choice.