Drones in the night sky above Dublin
National Holiday celebrations at Shipka peak, Bulgaria
Fireworks above the Eiffel Tower as part of Bastille Day celebrations in Paris
Artists perform during the Bharat Parv Festival, part of Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi
Travelling with the Nigeria Anniversary celebration in Kano, Nigeria
King of Spain and his daughter attend the National Day Military Parade in Madrid
Ireland’s national holiday celebrates a patron saint who came from overseas to leave an indelible mark on his adopted homeland.
The 2022 census suggests some 20% of the Republic’s population were born outside the country, making their own invaluable contribution to Ireland’s social and economic life.
AB Ireland spoke to ACCA members who have made the country their home to find out what St Patrick’s Day means to them and a little about the other national celebration in their lives.
Fireworks
Originally from Afghanistan, Jalaluddin Nezami FCCA is senior fund accountant at Alter Domus, and a member of the ACCA Munster Panel
‘Last year, being new to Ireland, I learned about St Patrick for the first time. I loved the stories, the colour and the parades. What attracted me most was seeing people take time away from the stresses of work and life to chill with family and friends.
This special day brings a lot of happiness to people
‘Independence Day in Afghanistan is widely celebrated with fireworks, an army parade and similar outings with friends and families. People enjoy a favourite meal and wear our national attire. Like St Patrick’s Day, this special day brings a lot of happiness to people.’
Parade
Originally from India, Anand Panday ACCA is financial reporting leader at GE and vice-chairman of the ACCA Leinster Panel
‘In the morning, we’ll go with friends to watch the parade in Dublin’s city centre. Then we’ll have a nice lunch and enjoy the exquisite way the city has been decorated.
‘In India, 26 January is celebrated as Republic Day. We have a beautiful parade starting from the Presidential Palace (Rashtapati Bhawan) and ending at the largest war memorial in India, India Gate. All 28 states of India represent their ethnicity and culture in this parade. This year French President Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest as celebrations marked India’s 75th Republic Day.’
Going green
Originally from Nigeria, Aderemi Sotunbo FCCA is a member of the ACCA business leaders’ forum
‘During the more than two decades we have been in Ireland, we have always looked forward to St Patrick’s Day. We usually take the opportunity to showcase our heritage in our local parade and we have won some community awards for this. You could say we have leveraged St Patrick’s Day as an integration platform.
The relationship between our two countries dates back to Irish missionaries coming to Nigeria
‘Both Ireland and Nigeria are peacemakers on a global scale. The relationship between our two great countries dates back to Irish missionaries coming to Nigeria. The colour green is also a unifying symbol between Ireland and Nigeria. We have many cultural similarities in being family orientated, community driven, and combining openness with religious beliefs, love and care.’
Visions
Originally from Spain, Jorge Fernandez Revilla FCCA is partner at Financial Services Group, KPMG
‘We always decorate the house for St Patrick’s Day as we have two young daughters who also get dressed up for the day. Adding to our enjoyment, we have many friends and family members that want to celebrate the day in Ireland with us.
‘Spain’s national day is 12 October. There are parades in Madrid with the royal family and members of government. It’s a day for family and friends to gather. On the day we also celebrate a religious holiday, Our Lady of the Pillar, so it’s a double celebration for all those girls and women named Pilar.’
Liberation
Originally from Bulgaria, Desislava Yordanova FCCA is a financial accountant at Sims IVF Clinic and chair of the Leinster panel
‘St Patrick’s Day is an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful parks and nature in Ireland. I usually go to a park or to the coast with family and friends, and enjoy the sense of revival and awakening of life. The colours are so vivid.
It’s a time for families to get together and enjoy traditional meals and songs
‘In Bulgaria, Independence Day on 3 March is our national day. We usually celebrate by bringing wreaths to national monuments, visiting museums and places of historic importance. It’s also a time for families to get together and enjoy traditional meals and songs.’
Storming the prison
Originally from France, Laura Angelin FCCA is partner, audit and assurance at Mazars, and a member of the ACCA Financial Services Network
‘Celebrating St Patrick’s Day has become a real tradition for our family, even more so since the birth of our twin daughters here. They are deeply connected to Ireland, and the celebrations and symbols of St Patrick’s Day are now part of our family culture. This extends to our wider family in France too.
‘Bastille Day is France’s national day, celebrated on 14 July all over the country with parades, fireworks and local events. The fact that it takes place during the summer is an extra reason for people to get together.’
No small potatoes
Originally from England, Sarah Harris FCCA is tax specialist – assistant principal at the Revenue, and a member of the ACCA Munster Panel
‘My husband and I will mark St Patrick’s Day through our long-standing tradition of planting seed potatoes in our city garden. Since early February, as the ‘tatties’ chitted, we have chatted and debated about the best varieties to grow.
Both the English and Irish have a shared love of a freshly dug spud, steamed and buttered
‘I was born in Brighton and quickly discovered that the English and Irish have a shared love of a freshly dug spud, steamed and adorned with butter. As I dig the soil on St Patrick’s Day, the sounds of music and laughter passing by our back wall will fill me with joy, and make me feel connected to the earth and our city.’
