March 17^th is widely known as St. Patrick's Day - the holiday of all Irish people around the world who, according to the latest data, are approaching 80 million people globally, and in the United States alone there are more than 36 million people of Irish descent.That’s a reason why Saint Patrick’s Day is marked not only in Ireland but in many countries around the globe. In Bulgaria, St. Patrick's Day has been officially celebrated since 2016. 

H.E. Martina Feeney took up duty as the Ambassador of Ireland to Bulgaria, and also, in a non-resident capacity, to Armenia and Georgia in October 2020. She talks to BNR's Assia Chaneva ahead of Ireland's National Day:

What is the number of Irish people who live in Bulgaria currently?

“I do not have up-to-date data on the number of Irish citizens living permanently in Bulgaria, but it is not large. These are mostly people who have settled in Bulgaria, people who have Bulgarian families, Irish people whose spouses are Bulgarians. These Irish are very well integrated into Bulgarian society”.

How are the relations between the two countries developing - at first glance, Bulgaria imports whiskey from Ireland and publishes Irish writers - established classics and contemporary authors, but in which sectors of the economy are the relations most significant?

"The political relations between Ireland and Bulgaria are excellent. Obviously, due to the pandemic measures in the last 2 years, we have not had official high-level visits. But with the measures eased soon, we are hoping to have at least one ministerial visit this year.

In terms of trade - yes Irish whiskey is very well known in Bulgaria, as well as the famous Irish dark beer. In terms of the economy, trade relations between our two countries are not great, but there is a potential, especially in the field of services.

There are several Irish companies in Bulgaria, Irish start-up companies; they are in the field of services - mainly financial and accounting services. There is a large Irish packaging company. But we do not have large investments in Bulgaria apart form that.”

We remember how last year at that time in Sofia we enjoyed the exhibition "Feast of Irish Culture". On the Bridge of Lovers near the National Palace of Culture, we admired the cultural richness of Ireland in over 40 photographs and posters illustrating the literary, musical, film and architectural heritage of the emerald island. What have you prepared this year?

“This year we are not doing a St. Patrick's Day week in Sofia, but we are planning one in May. On the bridge of lovers near the National Palace of Culture we will have an exhibition dedicated to the 50^th anniversary of Ireland's accession to the EU. We will do it together with the Embassy of Denmark, because Denmark and Ireland became members of the EU at the same time on January 1, 1973. This exhibition will be for a week around May 9 - Europe Day. We celebrate the 50^th anniversary now, because in 1972 Ireland signed the EU Accession Treaty”.

Ireland has a long tradition to illuminate with green lights the buildings of iconic cultural institutions around the world on Saint Patrick’s Day. Which will be the Bulgarian buildings that will glow in green on March 17?

“This year the buildings of the Irish embassies around the world will be lit not in green, but in yellow and blue - in solidarity with Ukraine. It will be the same with the building of the Embassy of Ireland in Sofia which will shine in blue and yellow on March 16 and 17 as a sign of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

There will be buildings in Bulgaria that will be illuminated in green.

In Sofia these include: The Sofia City Library, Sofia University, the National Library, the Sofia Opera and Ballet. Also, for the first time the statue of Saint Sofia will be shine in green.

In the country these will be the buildings of: the University of Veliko Tarnovo, Baba Vida Fortress, the Art Gallery in Vidin, the clock house in Tryavna, Southwestern University "Neofit Rilski" in Blagoevgrad, the House of Culture "Boris Hristov" in Plovdiv, the Regional Library in Gabrovo.”

How do you feel here after living for a year and a half in Bulgaria?

“I made an effort to travel around Bulgaria, but by the pandemic, I was limited. I managed to visit some places, I went to the Black Sea, to some mountains. From what I have seen so far, Bulgaria is a very picturesque country. I remember in the autumn, while travelling through the mountains to Northern Bulgaria, I saw the most beautiful autumn colours. I hope to see much more from Bulgaria this year.”

I hope you will travel more around Bulgaria this year and go to Plovdiv if you have not been there yet.

"I have been to Plovdiv several times. Plovdiv is a very beautiful city. We are planning a special exhibition in the summer dedicated to James Joyce, on the occasion of the centenary of the publication of his novel "Ulysses". There is an exhibition dedicated to James Joyce in the city library in Burgas this week. We are planning the same exhibition in Plovdiv in June - more precisely for June 16, when we celebrate Bloomsday - the day when the action in the novel "Ulysses" takes place."

Photos: ireland.ie/bulgaria