The El Varadero square in Puerto del Carmen experienced a massive celebration on Sunday for St. Patrick's Day, the patron saint of the Irish, whose celebration is promoted by the Tías Town Council, through the Department of Tourism, since 2013.
In this edition, a green tide swept through the Avenida de las Playas in a multicultural parade with the presence of resident Irish, tourists, troupes and batucadas from Tías and Lanzarote. This green tide departed at 1 p.m. from the Playa Grande Tourist Office area towards La Tiñosa, where it would join the Irish community that had been crowding the interior and exterior of the Carmen church since morning, where they were celebrating the day of the patron saint of Ireland.
The Mayor of Tías, Pancho Hernández, and the Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Tourism, Amado Jesús Vizcaíno, along with several councilors from the government group, attended this religious celebration.
After the arrival of the parade to the Plaza de El Varadero, the Irish flag was raised, in an act that also included the participation of the Mayor of Tías and the Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Tourism, as well as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Ireland in Lanzarote, the lawyer Eileen Izquierdo Lawlor, who read a message from the re-elected President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. "Green, in addition to being the color of the country, should from now on be the symbol united with the protection of the environment", according to what the consul read in Lanzarote.
Musical performances and activities throughout the weekend
Likewise, both the Mayor of Tías, Pancho Hernández, and the Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Tourism, Amado Vizcaíno, had words of affection towards the resident Irish community, which is one of the most numerous foreign communities in the municipality, as well as towards the thousands of tourists who schedule their annual vacations in Lanzarote coinciding with this celebration. In this sense, the Tías Town Council points out that, in January, Irish tourism grew by 2.3% in Lanzarote and that during 2018, 291,428 Irish people visited the island.
Coinciding with St. Patrick's Day, activities were held throughout the weekend in Puerto del Carmen, concentrated in Playa Grande, in the Matagorda area, and on Sunday in La Tiñosa. Between morning and night, the stage in the Plaza de El Varadero hosted performances by several musical groups that enlivened this festive day.
The celebration of St. Patrick's Day in Puerto del Carmen had the collaboration and support of the Irish community residing in Lanzarote, the Cabildo of Lanzarote and the Government of the Canary Islands. The president of the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés, was among the authorities present during the afternoon in the Plaza de El Varadero in Puerto del Carmen.
