The Community of Madrid celebrates St. Patrick's Day with displays of Irish culture and music in Metro

The Community of Madrid is celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Metro with a number of activities related to Irish culture from this Monday until 17 March. Today, tourism Ireland, the Embassy of Ireland and Metro de Madrid presented the programme for this week at Plaza de España station, focused on the Emerald Isle and its customs, closely linked to our Celtic roots.

Accompanied by the Irish ambassador to Spain, Frank Smyth, Vázquez enjoyed the performance of the artists Pavel Sfera and Steve Richards, who performed a tribute to Bono and The Edge, from U2. 

In addition, throughout the week, Metro users will be able to enjoy traditional Irish music and dancing at Gran Vía station, performed by the UCD Dance Society. The station will also be lit up in green for the next few days and the entrance porticoes will be decorated with colourful shamrocks (the symbol of St. Patrick and Ireland). These shamrocks will also decorate Callao station.

All these activities are part of Ireland Week III, an initiative of Tourism Ireland, with the support of the Irish Embassy. 

This is not the first time that the Madrid underground has joined in the organisation of St. Patrick's Day. Last year, the Galician piper, Carlos Núñez, performed at the Plaza de España station. In 2023, there was a performance by Sharon Corr, a member of the band The Corrs, and San Bernardo station dyed its diamond emerald green and added "San Patricio" to its usual name.

Every 17 March, which coincides with the death of the country's patron saint in 461, millions of people take to the streets around the world to commemorate this day in his honour. In addition, green and clover are traditionally associated with the saint since, according to legend, he used this plant as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he introduced Christianity to the island.