The Irish are coming to Carbonear.

As part of the NL-Irish Connections program, 62 Irish men and women will be landing in the province on Friday to spend just over a week exploring the culture of this province.

The first three nights of the journey will be spent in Carbonear, with the rest of the time being split between Placentia and St. John’s.

While in Carbonear, the visitors won’t be staying in traditional hotels. 32 households in the community have agreed to open their homes to the guests.

Carbonear town Councilor and member of the NL Irish Connections Committee, Danielle Doyle, says residents can’t wait for everyone to arrive. She says people have been replacing their flooring, buying new bed sheets and looking for Irish flags in preparation. She says the town couldn’t be more welcoming if they tried.

Doyle says it will be interesting to see the two cultures come together.

She says Newfoundlanders and the Irish have a lot of similarities, and trips like this one help to strengthen ties that have been present ever since the first Irish settlers came here.

Trips to this province occur once every two years with this program. Next year, a group of Newfoundlanders will be heading over to Ireland.