ITALY:ITALY AND Ireland share a very special date in that today marks the 150th anniversary of the first "Italian" parliament in Turin declaring Victor Emmanuel II king of Italy.
To underline the happy coincidence of St Patrick’s Day and the celebrations of the unification of Italy on March 17th, 1861, President Mary McAleese yesterday sent a message to Italian president Giorgio Napolitano and “to the Italian people as you today celebrate a major milestone in the history of Italy”.
Highlighting the “exceptionally strong and friendly ties which bind us together”, the President continued: “The links forged in ages past by Colombanus and other Irish missionaries are today given expression in the close interaction between our two countries in so many areas . . .
“As Italy marks the 150th anniversary of unification, please be assured of our fondest and most sincere regard and know that you have the best wishes of the Irish people today and for the future.”
In Rome, where St Patrick’s Day usually passes relatively unnoticed, the Irish celebration is likely to be overshadowed by a series of unification celebrations which began in spectacular fashion at midnight last night with a rendition of the Italian national anthem followed by a massive fireworks display.
Rome’s small, close Irish community will come together for Mass this morning at the Irish Augustinian church of St Patrick’s, just off Via Veneto, which is itself holding centenary celebrations following the opening of St Patrick’s in 1911.
Representing the Holy See will be US Cardinal William Levada, the man who succeeded Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, as prefect for the Congregation Of The Doctrine of the Faith.
Due to perform at the Mass are the Ranelagh Singers.
Representing the Government in Rome today will be Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn, who has been in Italy since Tuesday, meeting the State agencies, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland in Milan and with the Irish community at a reception in the Rome Embassy to the Italian state last night.
Seizing the moment of the shared celebrations, Tourism Ireland has issued a special greetings card which proclaims: “Oggi si festeggia l’Unita d’Italia, ma anche San Patrizio, patrono di noi Irlandesi”.