Rio de Janeiro: The Christ the Redeemer statue here was given an Irish green tinge over the weekend when the landmark was lit in green ahead St. Patrick’s Day.
The Green Colored Christ the Redeemer
The statue, which is usually lit white, glowed a brilliant green from its perch overlooking the beachside city.
The event also marked 40 years of bilateral relations between Brazil and Ireland and Ireland’s Ambassador to Brazil, Brian Glynn, and Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan took part in the “greening” ceremony which they said was an honour for their country.
“The ‘greening’ of Christ the Redeemer here in Rio de Janeiro, is one of Ireland’s gifts to the world. St. Patrick’s Day is an unusual, unique national day because its celebrated all over the world. And thanks to the cardinal here in Rio de Janeiro, we’ve been able, for the fourth year running to ‘green’ the statue of Christ the Redeemer and its our way of telling the people of Brazil and of Rio de Janeiro that we’re united in friendship, not just on St. Patrick’s Day, but on every day of the year,” Glynn said.
“This is a wonderful honour for Ireland to be illuminating Christ the Redeemer in green colour. It is such an iconic statue and something that is recognized all over the world just as our St. Patrick’s Day is recognized all over the world. So, it’s a particular honour for me as the minister of education from Ireland to be able to be here while this statue turns green and while we celebrate our national feast day,” O’Sullivan said.
The Christ statue was lit two days before St. Patrick’s Day which is celebrated in Ireland and throughout much of the world on March 17.
Ventuno