Very few national holidays are celebrated globally. St Patrick's Day is certainly unique in the way it inspires people around the world to come together.
And while celebrations will be subdued once again this year, now more than 12 months on from the onset of the pandemic, millions of Irish abroad will still mark this special day with pride.
Co Kildare native Sinead van der Hoeven will be working for Paddy's Day this year. Sinead, who is the nursing director at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, said although she won't get the day off, she'll be thinking of home.
"In UAE it's a normal work day, however it is normally celebrated in the Irish Bars and the Irish Embassy always hosted a lovely event but that was pre-Covid," she said.
"This year I'll be working but will have a green cake with my colleagues who all make a fuss of me that day!"
Sinead said the past year has been tough on most frontline workers but everyone has risen to the challenge.
"Challenging times bring out the best or the worst in people. The past year has been just that, challenging times. Caring for sick patients is demanding intellectually and emotionally.
"Wearing full PPE (gown, head cover, face shield, N-95 Mask, gloves and shoe covers) for in excess of twelve hours per day whilst caring for patients is physically exhausting and even overwhelming.
"Yet, it is something that nurses and all healthcare workers choose to do because they have the strength of character, the compassion and the commitment to make such a positive contribution to society," she said.
"There is an amazing atmosphere of comradery."
Sinead, who left Ireland in 2014 with her husband and two Bernese mountain dogs, said the pandemic has meant she hasn't been able to visit family and friends as often as she would have liked.
"I really miss my family and my friends, most especially seeing my nephew and niece," she said.
"I also really miss the cold weather (not the rain though!), going for walks in Donadea Forest and roast chicken dinners!"
Mayo native Sara Kate Mangan is also based in Abu Dhabi. Sara Kate, a wound care specialty nurse, said she is feeling very far from home this Paddy's Day.
"I miss my mum very much as I would travel home twice a year and she would visit Abu Dhabi annually. It has been a hard time for everyone but you really feel the distance between you and home when the option of travel is taken away," she said.
Sara Kate said there was a large Irish diaspora in Abu Dhabi who would normally get together for March 17 but things will be different this year.
"The United Arab Emirates celebrate St Patrick's Day as if it is one of their own national holidays with concerts by the Coronas and other Irish bands," she said.
"But due to the current global pandemic there will not be the usual large celebrations. But I am sure there will still be a few pints of the black stuff!"
Asked what made them most proud to be Irish, Sara Kate and Sinead both agreed it was the reaction they got when they told someone their nationality.
"What makes me most proud to be Irish is the reaction I get when I say I'm Irish. People genuinely love the Irish and always have a story to tell," Sinead said.
Sara Kate added: "Working as a nurse during a pandemic alongside many other nationalities has shown to me even more so the strong bond the Irish people have to each other. No ask is too big or too small and it makes me proud to see the support we have provided to each other especially when we are so far from home."
"Looking after people from all over the world, the first question often asked is where are you from? Saying I am Irish will never tire."
Panadol is proud to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by recognising Irish people making a difference all over the world, meeting pain with strength.
