Clare County Council visits Tourism Ireland in New York

Representatives of Clare County Council, who are in New York this week for the St Patrick’s Day period, met with senior executives from Tourism Ireland on Friday (13 March). They were briefed on Tourism Ireland’s promotional programme in the United States for 2026, which is in full swing right now.

St Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity for tourism to Ireland – with this time of year both attracting visitors to Ireland and being important for teeing up bookings for the season ahead through the heightened profile created. Tourism Ireland in the United States is undertaking a major programme of media, travel trade and consumer promotions to capitalise on Ireland’s heightened profile around St Patrick’s Day. 

Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America, said: “We were delighted to meet with the representatives of Clare County Council and to have the opportunity to brief them about the extensive promotional programme we are undertaking in the United States this year. The US remains an extremely important market for tourism to Ireland – in terms of revenue and visitor numbers. Visitors from the United States tend to stay longer, spend more and tour extensively around our regions.

“Our St Patrick’s Day programme includes a major programme of media, travel trade and consumer promotions. Our aim is to remind American holidaymakers that Ireland offers the warmest of welcomes and great fun, as well as wonderful scenery and heritage. We are taking every opportunity to capitalise on Ireland’s heightened profile around this St Patrick’s Day period.”

Tourism Ireland will amplify global St Patrick’s Day celebrations through strategic festival partnerships, reaching audiences across the world. Coverage of the New York parade will be broadcast to around 8 million, generating buzz for Irish culture and visitation. The live NBC broadcast of the New York parade will feature pre-recorded segments with NBC producer Mike Mathis highlighting Ireland’s culture, heritage and scenery. 

Iconic locations around the world will light up green around St Patrick’s Day, including the Empire State Building in New York, and Tourism Ireland will be sharing this moment of connection across its social and publicity channels.