Tourism Ireland’s ‘Semana de Irlanda’ is promoting Saint Patrick’s Day festivities in Madrid, showcasing Irish culture and music.
Spain and Portugal have emerged as the only major European markets not in decline in January’s CSO figures, and have overtaken France and Germany to become Ireland’s third largest inbound market.
The Gran Vía metro station plays a pivotal role in the celebrations, featuring performances and illuminated decorations throughout the week.
U2 tribute artists Pavel Sfera and Steve Richards performed at key locations in Madrid, attracting attention from commuters and tourists alike.
Over 6m views recorded for the promotional video on Tourism Ireland’s YouTube channel reflect strong online engagement.
The celebration extends beyond Madrid, with similar events taking place in Milan, Paris, and Switzerland to attract European tourists to Ireland.
Susan Bolger, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Spain, shared: “We kicked off our ‘Semana de Irlanda’ Saint Patrick’s Day 2025 programme in Madrid with some fun performances by two U2 tribute artists. Our aim is to bring a smile to the faces of people in the Spanish capital and to spread the message that Ireland offers the warmest of welcomes and great fun – and to showcase our rich music and culture. Saint Patrick’s Day provides a unique opportunity to showcase the very best of Ireland to the world and at Tourism Ireland we are taking every opportunity to capitalise on Ireland’s heightened profile this week. Promotion of all we offer visitors at this time of year leads to the highest level of online research for ‘holidays to Ireland’ annually, so the spotlight for Ireland created during Saint Patrick’s Week tees up spring and summer travel ahead. We look forward to inspiring even more Spanish holidaymakers to visit our island and experience its magic for themselves.”
