Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has released a special new video to mark St. Patrick's Day 2024.
The video, released just days before St. Patrick's Day, highlights how far and wide Ireland's diaspora has spread around the world.
"This St. Patrick's Day, we are thinking of those who've traveled to and from our shores," the video says.
Just a few of Ireland's many emigrants are highlighted in the video, proud Irish people in a variety of careers and work in places like Colombia, Toronto, Cayman Islands, Indonesia, Venice, Chamonix, and more.
The video has a poignant closing: "7 million people live on the island of Ireland, but for 70 million more of us, Ireland is a place called home."
The stirring video's featured song, “Run” by Snow Patrol, was specially arranged by conductor David Brophy who also assembled the choir, and was recorded in Ireland’s National Concert Hall, with lead singer Juliette Crosbie.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who was in the US for a week for St. Patrick's Day engagements, recorded a message to mark the holiday.
"It's my great honor, on behalf of the Government of Ireland, to send St. Patrick's Day greetings to our extended Irish family and the many friends of Ireland around the world," the Taoiseach said.
The Taoiseach went on to say that St. Patrick's Day "brings us together, whether living in Ireland or elsewhere around the world.
"This year, the central theme of St. Patrick's Day is the future of our country in the world, a future viewed especially through the eyes of our younger people at home and overseas."
He added: "For centuries now, we Irish have traversed the world, to live and work, to teach and learn, to build new lives.
"And as we leave and return, the line between diaspora and home becomes increasingly blurred.
"Compared to past generations in today's world, whether it's in Sydney or Vancouver, New York or Dubai, the young Irish are never far from home."
He closed his message with an old Irish saying - "Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine, we live in each other's shadow."
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has also created a St. Patrick's Day hub for resources showing off the best of Ireland at home and around the world.
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