Table Mountain goes green

Cape Town is the focus of St Patrick’s Day 2012, with Table Mountain shining green in honour of this Irish festival once again.

On Saturday, 17 March, is St Patrick’s Day, one of Ireland’s most celebrated patron saints. The day marks his death and has become a one of celebration of all things Irish around the world.

In Cape Town, mayor Patricia de Lille will mark the occasion by throwing the switch to light up Table Mountain in a radiant shade of green for the second year running. The lighting, which uses renewable energy, will be switched on at 8pm.

A special celebration, hosting dignitaries from Ireland and Cape Town, as well as members of the South African travel trade and the media, will be held to commemorate the initiative, with Irish music, dancers and a pint or two of Guinness thrown in for good measure.

Up for grabs is a trip to Ireland, by entering the St Patrick’s Day competition on: http://www.discoverireland.com/za/campaigns/st-patricks-competition-2012/?WT.mc_id=za_ez_010312_ezine_march1. Whether it’s enjoying a pint of Guinness or donning a bright-green suit, share how you plan to celebrate being Irish on St Patrick’s Day. Entrants are encouraged to post photos, videos and comments on Tourism Ireland SA’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TourismIrelandSA or Twitter (@gotoirelandSA). The prize is sponsored by Trafalgar, Tourism Ireland and Air France KLM.

“You don’t have to be Irish to celebrate St Patrick’s Day,” says Trafalgar MD Theresa Szejwallo, “but you do have to be fun, or as they say in Ireland, craic! Don’t miss the opportunity to win this fantastic trip to Ireland – perhaps the luck of the Irish will be with you, and you’ll get to experience this fascinating country.”