Charlie McConalogue to visit Colombia for St Patrick's Day 

Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue is to visit Colombia to promote Ireland as part of this year’s St Patrick's Day programme.

The junior minister is one of 38 representatives of the State who will visit  90 cities in 40 countries.

The Fianna Fáil TD was appointed  Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with Special Responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy in January after failing to be reappointed minister for agriculture following the formation of a new government.

Hundreds of thousands of Colombians claim Irish descent and more than 1,000 Colombians live in Ireland. Tourism between the two countries is growing, with more than 7,000 Irish tourists visiting Colombia in 2023, and almost 1,000 Colombians coming to Ireland as tourists.

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin is to visit Texas and Washington DC while Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence Simon Harris is going to Philadelphia and New York.

Announcing the St Patrick's Day programme, the Government said the overall message is emphasising Ireland’s outlook and attractiveness as a small, open trading economy, with economic success rooted in openness and the willingness to build partnerships.