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28 | Gazette Life | March 2026CRAIC ON THE COAST The winter rains have left Lanzarote greener than ever, but the island will be even greener in March, as it celebrates St. Patrick%u2019s Day, or El D%u00eda de San Patricio, which is becoming one of the most important tourist events in the calendar. Ireland and the Canaries may be 1,500 miles apart, but these islands in the Atlantic have shared close links for centuries. Both shaped by sad histories of famine and emigration, the Emerald Isle and the Fortunate Islands share long-standing religious, commercial and cultural links, and more recently, a currency. Today, this historic bond is more alive than ever. Over 350,000 Irish visitors last year, Ireland is by far the most faithful of Lanzarote%u2019s tourist markets, and the second most important source of tourism after the UK.Lanzarote has also become a cherished home for Irish expats, a creative hub for gifted musicians, and a base for savvy entrepreneurs who have shaped our social scene with iconic bars and businesses.Year after year, with unwavering loyalty, our Irish friends return; often aboard the Irish-owned airline that has become a cornerstone of access to our shores. They are not just visitors; they are part of the community, instrumental in some of the island%u2019s most dynamic and successful events.St. Patrick may never have set foot on Lanzarote - even if he had, there would have been no snakes for him to banish - but his spirit and name will most certainly be felt across Lanzarote this month. Over the following pages, we invite you to explore how our island turns a joyful shade of green in celebration - sharing the events, the history, and even a taste of Ireland itself.%u201cIreland and the Canaries may be 1,500 miles apart, but these islands have shared close links for centuries.%u201d