St Patrick’s Festival goes virtual, but keeps it real

This year’s online event aims to present a truly modern vision of creative Ireland for local and international audiences

Families can take part in the St Patrick’s Festival from their own homes this year. Photo: Allen Kiely

“Tell me you’re Irish without telling me you’re Irish.” The TikTok challenge, launched last Wednesday, is part of the social media app’s sponsorship of St Patrick’s Festival 2021.

TikTok has contributed just over a quarter of the €1.9 million budget for this year’s six-day virtual celebration. Its involvement has brought other benefits too, according to Aileen Galvin, the festival’s marketing and communications director.

“The #AwakenIreland challenge is huge. For TikTok to be pushing that out ...