Irish eyes go online with a click for Saint Patrick

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DUBLIN (AFP) - Ireland's St Patrick's Day celebrations have increasingly become a global excuse for a party but this year a virtual parade ensures that the "paddywhackery" really will be worldwide.

In the real world, Saint Patrick's Day parades are now held throughout not only Ireland but also countries with big emigrant communities like the United States and Britain.

The wearing of the green, the downing of celebratory pints of Guinness and enjoying the "craic" (fun) has also spread to cities as far apart as Moscow and Tokyo and Beijing is joining the party this year with its first parade.

But for those still missing out on the real thing, state promotion body Tourism Ireland is hosting the world's first virtual Saint Patrick's Day parade in the Internet-based, virtual world of Second Life.

Dublin is already a popular destination on Second Life which is an online two-dimensional simulation game. Launched in 2003 it now has millions of "residents".

The virtual parade will include 20 Irish- and Celtic-themed floats. The objective is to encourage those who visit this virtual world to turn up on the real Emerald Isle during 2008.

It is part of a 37-million-euro (58-million-dollars) six-month campaign promotion aimed at attracting nine million tourists this year.

"Shamrocks, shillelaghs (cudgels) and green drinks may not be to everyone's taste here on the island, but people across the globe relish the fun and the celebration and we aim to capitalise on that interest and turn it to our direct advantage," said Tourism Ireland chairman Hugh Friel.

Traditionally, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's ministers also jet off to visit the country's ubiquitous expatriates in an effort to drum up inward investment and visitors.

Nearly 30 ministers are visiting 45 destinations around the world this year and most have already left in advance of the March 17 national holiday.

The United States is the main focus of attention for globe-trotting ministers. About 34 million people across the Atlantic claim some Irish ancestry -- over eight times the population of the Irish republic.

The US blitz will mean government representatives dropping in on Washington, Atlanta, Miami, New York, Boston, Savannah, Charleston, Chicago, St Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, New Haven, Philadelphia, Houston and New Orleans.

The United States has six places named Dublin and four named Shamrock, after the country's three-leafed floral emblem.

Ahern will visit Washington to present the traditional bowl of shamrock to President George W. Bush in the White House.