Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day events take place in March in Monaco.

Traditionally H.S.H. Prince Albert II lights up His palace in green to mark Ireland's National Day and as a tribute to His Irish roots - His great-grandfather emigrated to the United States from County Mayo when he was 20 years old. He settled and started a family in Philadelphia, where in 1929 Princess Grace was born.

The Library in her namesake celebrates each year. In the past the public has enjoyed performances by Les Petits Chanteurs and La Maîtrise de Monaco (Boys' Choir and Cathedral Choir), students from the Académie de Musique et de Théâtre Rainier III (performing music and songs from Princess Grace's personal collection of Irish-American sheet music held in the Library), dancers from the Académie de Danse Classique Princesse Grace, the Pallas Quartet (Cork School of Music) and renowned Irish musicians, including Fintan Vallely, Tom Cullivan and Dubh Linn.  In 2000, children from Rostrevor in Northern Ireland performed the Gaelic opera An Iarlais at the Théâtre Princesse Grace. In 2025 we had a brilliant display of Irish dancing by champion Irish dancers Cara Flannagan Walsh and Kaylee Brown - a first at the Library!

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On the evening of 17th March 2025 we were honored with the presence of HSH Prince Albert II and H.E. Niall Burgess, Ambassador of Ireland to the Principality of Monaco. They enjoyed a musical performance by Noël Nardi, a talented harp student at the Académie Rainier III conservatoire performed some traditional Irish tunes from the Princess Grace personal collection of Irish American song sheets and a reading by The Ireland Funds Monaco Writer-in-Residence Cónal Creedon from Cork city who read his poem 'Come west with me to Beara'. The Ambassador gave an insight talk entitled ‘A memory palace on the Mediterranean’.  

The Ambassador of Ireland to the Principality of Monaco, H.E. Niall Burgess presented H.S.H. Prince Albert II with a traditional bowl of shamrocks to mark St Patrick's Day in Monaco. Several events were held at the Princess Grace Irish Library.

 © Axel Bastello/Palais princier

17th March 2025. Left to right: Paula Farquharson, Director of the Library, author Cónal Creedon, Peter K. Murphy, Library Trustee, Her Excellency Anne-Marie Boisbouvier, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Monaco & Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, H.E. Niall Burgess, Ambassador of Ireland to the Principality of Monaco, Marie Morgan Burgess, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Pierre Joannon, former Consul General of Ireland in France & Member of RIA, Noël Nardi, a harp student at the Académie Rainier III, Mark Armstrong, Library Trustee, Annick Joannon, Guadalupe Smurfit, President The Ireland Funds Monaco and Jacqueline Murphy.

 © Axel Bastello/Palais princier

Noël Nardi, a talented harp student at the Académie Rainier III conservatoire performed some traditional Irish tunes from the Princess Grace personal collection of Irish American song sheets.

 © Axel Bastello/Palais princier

St Patrick's Day 2025

At lunchtime on Monday 17th March, we experienced a fantastic Irish céilí ambiance at the Library with a wonderful, lively lunchtime session with the much-loved Irish music group Dubh Linn, performing traditional, contemporary & newly composed folk music. In addition, we also enjoyed a display of fantastic Irish dancing by champions Cara Flannagan Walsh and Kaylee Brown.

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This concert is made possible by the generous support of our patron Mr Wil Byrne. 

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17th March 2025 we had a brilliant display of dancing by champion Irish dancers Cara Flannagan Walsh and Kaylee Brown - a first at the Library! The music was performed by much-loved Irish music band, Dubh Linn, who played a lively mix of traditional songs and tunes. The four talented musicians from Dublin (Aido, Ray, Fionnuala and Helen Lawlor) have a unique sound with vocal harmonies and energetic instrumental arrangements. The grand finale was a brilliant display of dancing by champion Irish dancers Cara Flannagan Walsh and Kaylee Brown.