Oor castle’s going green for St Patrick’s Day!

Edinburgh Castle will be bathed in green light to mark St Patrick’s Day, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop has announced during a visit to Dublin.

Ms Hyslop said that Scotland and Ireland greatly valued their relationship, and that it was fitting that one of Scotland’s most iconic buildings would turn green for Ireland’s national day.

The Castle joins a host of global landmarks celebrating Ireland’s national day, including the Colosseum in Rome and the Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Paris.

Ms Hyslop has travelled to Ireland to address the British Irish Chamber of Commerce on the importance of Scotland and Ireland’s membership of the EU, which facilitates trade to take place between the two nations and gives Scottish companies access to the fastest growing economy in Europe.

Scotland also benefits from significant Irish investment – with 85 Irish owned companies operating in Scotland, employing nearly 6,000 people with a turnover of £2.4 billion.

Ireland is Scotland’s 8^th largest export market with £815 million exported to Ireland in 2012, and trade from Ireland to Scotland has been estimated at around £300 million and growing. Ireland was the EU’s fastest growing economy in 2014 and is expected to be so again in 2015. Both countries value their membership of the European Union, and the two have worked together to secure EU funding for 19 joint projects, with a joint value of £30 million.

Ms Hyslop said: “Turning one of Scotland’s most iconic buildings green for St Patrick’s Day is a fitting way to show the importance we place on our relationship with Ireland, and a celebration of the friendship which exists between our two nations.

“Our economic links with Ireland, our work together in the European Union, and the shared value we place on our membership of that union, show how much we have to gain from strengthening our relationship.

“Irish investment makes a substantial contribution to Scotland’s economy. Irish-owned companies in Scotland are responsible for nearly 6,000 jobs and turnover of £2.4 billion, while Scottish exports to Ireland are worth £815 million a year.

“Ireland and Scotland have different identities and experiences, but we are united by elements of shared history, culture and language – and so it’s appropriate that Edinburgh Castle, with its important place in Scotland’s history and culture, goes green for St Patrick’s Day.”

Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, who visited Edinburgh just a fortnight ago, warmly welcomed the announcement that Edinburgh Castle will be illuminated in green to mark Ireland’s national day.

He said: ‘I very much appreciate this generous gesture from the Scottish Government. The addition of such a landmark to the already impressive list of iconic locations going green on St Patrick’s Day is another important moment in the friendship between Ireland and Scotland and literally highlights our ever-strengthening links. The theme for my recent visit to Edinburgh was embarking on a ‘new chapter’ in Irish-Scottish relations. Today’s announcement is a really significant and visible way to underline that.”

I’m not convinced the ‘greening’ of Edinburgh Castle will go down too well with some sections of Scottish society. What do you think?