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All eyes on Emerald Isle
St. Patrick?s Day on March 17 is a unique event in the calendar ? the world?s attention turns to Ireland and all things Irish. The Irish and their friends don a little green and raise a peg of good triple-distilled Irish whiskey or a glass of fine Irish stout, in praise of the Emerald Isle.
St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 is a unique event in the calendar — the world’s attention turns to Ireland and all things Irish. The Irish and their friends don a little green and raise a peg of good triple-distilled Irish whiskey or a glass of fine Irish stout, in praise of the Emerald Isle. Our friends have full licence to feel emotionally, intellectually and spiritually Irish. As the saying goes, ‘you don’t have to be Irish to be Irish!’
Here in India, we reminisce on the genuine bonds of friendship and the affinities which, for long, have linked our two peoples. Those ties intensified in the first half of the 20th century as we both moved to independence. The Irish-born in India would hardly make much of a blip on the demographic radar screen. But there’s a precious legacy in the countless numbers of Indians who were educated in Irish schools here and who feel a special sense of affinity for Ireland.
It is my particular mission to contribute to revitalising the relationship between our two countries in business, education, tourism and cultural exchanges. Ireland is particularly keen to engage much more with India, a priority country in our ‘Asia Strategy’ programme. The Irish market too offers good investment opportunities for Indian concerns. Business will prosper in software/IT, where we are both world leaders, and in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and engineering, among others.
Good business was done during the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern’s India visit in January. With some 85 companies, it was one of the biggest trade delegations ever from Ireland. Some 13 companies signed contracts with Indian companies and 20 more educational partnership contracts were signed. Many more deals are in the pipeline.
Those already familiar with Ireland will know how much we have to offer, both in high-quality education and our congenial way of life. Indians feel genuinely at home in Ireland.Contemporary Irish and Indian writers are strengthening literary links. Talking with some English literature students at JNU recently, I was delighted they were so conversant with the works of contemporary Irish poets and playwrights such as Séamus Heaney and Brian Friel.
At this time, thoughts of Irish people abroad inevitably turn homewards, more than a little nostalgia can be induced by a re-reading of Nehru’s description of Ireland as a green and beautiful island, full of romance, dipping into the Atlantic Ocean. I look forward to sharing a bit of that nostalgia with my compatriots and very many of our friends. Let the celebrations continue.
The writer is Ireland’s ambassador to India