It is now officially St. Patrick's Day in Ireland. Here in America (in a few hours) everyone will become "Irish for a day" (which I personally think is bull$hit, as most people probably cant name one city in Ireland besides Dublin). It is basically an excuse to get wasted. They will die the beer (And the Chicago River) green, and will have a parade. I like the holiday. How is it tradionally celebrated in Ireland? And how will you be celebrating?
Do they actually die the Chicago river? St. Patrick's day is a big deal here because of the historical links between Ireland and Newfoundland. In fact, I think it's the only place outside of Ireland where St. Patrick's day is a holiday... The Irish-Newfoundland population is by and large closer to Ireland than the Irish American population (by my reckoning, anyway), but St. Patrick's day is still considered, above all else, an excuse to get drunk. Being the resident Irishman amongst my peers, I'm being forced to hit the town tomorrow night - even though I have far too much work to do.
You need an excuse? Almost every town will have a parade of some sort - a few floats, marching bands, local (youth) sports clubs, street performers, people throwing sweets....fire engines, tractors, anything going really. It's a good day out for the family. I'll head into town (Belfast) tomorrow at some stage to see how things are going - I know something's been planned but I don't know too many of the details. Last year I ended up at a free bar in the private secret corridors of City Hall after a gig beforehand which kept me nicely whiskey-ed up for the day, so I'm hoping for more of the same tomorrow. QFT (Queen's Film Theatre) are showing some Irish films for £1 all day as well, so I might pop in to see The Commitments - which strangely enough I've never seen, though I've read the book, am a Frames fan (a young Glen Hansard's in it), and everyone else in the country seems to have done. It's the classic take-it-as-it-comes day. And the sun always shines.
yeah it's party time today,and i bet im not the only paddy to wake up drunk this morning,*hic* saying that today im meeting my buddys at 4:30 after the parade and kiddies leave the city center,few pints,the lads normally throw a few quid on the big race today and after were all going to see some guy play the guitar in a pub until closeing time. so should be good craic... happy paddys day everyone....
These photos were taken in and outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland in 2004. The scarf is Timbers Army, the independent supporters group of the Portland [Oregon, USA] Timbers in the United Soccer League's First Division. I think it was Ash Wednesday that day. Needless to say, I did not give up Guinness for Lent that year. Slainte.
UUUGGGGHHH! What the hell happened!? I'm going to get some more minced beef sandwiches and am off to sleep. Grrrrrreasy!
To my surprise, thats true From Wikipedia Saint Patrick (386–March 17, 493 C.E., see below) was a missionary and is regarded as the patron saint of Ireland (along with Saint Brigid and Saint Columba*). He is also the patron saint of excluded people, engineers, and Nigeria, which was evangelized primarily by Irish missionaries, especially priests from Saint Patrick's Missionary Society (also known as the Kiltegan Missionaries). *my edit, that is St. Collum Cille, I believe
Wiki: Saint Columba or Saint Colm Cille sometimes known as St. Columba of Iona (7 December 521 - 9 June 597), (Old Irish Columb Cille, meaning "Dove of the church"), was the outstanding figure among the Gaelic missionary monks who reintroduced Christianity to northern Britain during the Dark Ages. Columb Cille as well (in Old Irish, its ont Collum, but its close)
Perhaps so in Wiki, but the two are different people. Columba was involved in what in modern day Switzerland at the same time as Colmcille was elsewhere - can't remember now.
Are you sure? I've heard the names interchanged an awful lot. Colmcille did set up a monastery in Iona. My primary school was called Scoil Choilmcille - he came from Gartan, a village about twenty minutes outside Letterkenny. Gartan clay is reputed to have healing properties - regarded in the same light as holy water.