On 15 March 1992, thousands of delighted Muscovites lined Novy Arbat (central street of Moscow) to witness the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in the Russian capital's history. Yuri Luzhkov (then Deputy Premier of the Moscow City Council) and Aer Rianta Chief Executive Derek Keogh were on the reviewing stand as a police escort led the way for Russian marching bands, Cossack horsemen, and 15 floats representing many Russian and Irish companies. The parade, which was the brainchild of Derek Keogh, was a big success, and ensured a repeat performance the following year.
    Russia and Ireland are able not only the ability to have fun and celebrate the holidays together but also very close business co-operation. Such trademark as Guinness, Bailey's, Irish duty-free "Aerofirst" in Moscow and a number of Irish pubs (Shamrock, Sally O'Brien's, Rosie O'Gradies) are very popular. Ireland is called the "Celtic Tiger" for powerful growth of its economy in recent years. We hope the "Celtic Tiger" will bring success as Russia as all people who come to events of St. Patrick's Day.