On behalf of the Queensland Government, I am delighted to welcome you to the 2022 Brisbane Irish Festival.
This lively annual event provides Queenslanders of Irish ancestry, and those without, the opportunity to come together to observe St Patrick’s Day and celebrate the rich cultural history and contributions made by people of Irish descent.
The festival program includes the colourful and highly anticipated St Patrick’s Day Parade, with origins stretching back to 1885. This year’s parade theme is fittingly ‘Thank you to our Frontline Workers’, honouring the people working day in and day out at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the Queensland community.
Events, such as the Brisbane Irish Festival, instil a strong sense of community pride and this is ever more important as we continue to respond positively to the challenges we have faced over recent years.
This festival also emphasises Queensland as a multicultural success story, which is something worth celebrating, with the sunshine State home to people from 220 different countries and territories who speak more than 180 languages and identify with more than 110 different religious beliefs.
We are committed to ensuring people of all backgrounds, faiths and cultures in Queensland are included and respected. This is why the Queensland Government proudly supports the Brisbane Irish Festival through the Celebrating Multicultural Queensland program.
I would like to thank the St Patrick’s Day Parade Association and partners for staging this wonderful event. Best wishes for another exciting, vibrant and COVID safe festival program.
ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK MP
PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND
MINISTER FOR THE OLYMPICS