Minister Joe McHugh visits Scotland for St Patrick’s Day 2015
Minister of State with special responsibility for the Gaeltacht and Natural Resources Joe McHugh TD represented the Irish Government in Scotland over the St Patrick’s Day period. He attended a wide variety of events celebrating Ireland’s National Day.
Minister McHugh spoke to a large audience at a Tourism Ireland event in Glasgow, promoting tourism to Ireland as well as highlighting the special connection between Scotland and the North-West of Ireland.
Conradh na Gaeilge Glaschú held a reception to mark the 120th anniversary of that organisation’s establishment of a branch in Scotland. Many local Irish and Scottish people who take Irish language classes in Glasgow attended and met with the Minister.
Minister McHugh attended several of Scotland’s largest St Patrick’s Day community events. He officially opened Coatbridge’s St Patrick’s Day Festival family day in the town centre. He received a very warm welcome at the Glasgow St Patrick’s Festival’s family day in the Merchant Square in the city. He joined a few hundred other guests at the Glasgow St Patrick’s Day Charity Ball in the Marriott Hotel.
Minister McHugh addresses the crowds at the Glasgow St Patrick’s Festival family day.
Minister McHugh was the guest of honour at a breakfast at the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce in Uphall. The event had a particular focus on doing business with Irish companies.
Minister McHugh also met with academics and students from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Celtic and Scottish Studies, where he discussed their ongoing work in the study of Celtic languages and heritage.
The Consulate’s National Day reception rounded off the programme, at which Minister McHugh was the guest of honour. This took place at BT Murrayfield Stadium on the eve of Ireland’s Six Nations retention.
Musicians from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Coatbridge (Photograph by Grace Avery)
Dancers from Siamsoir Irish Dance Academy perform at the Consulate reception (Photograph by Grace Avery)