St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland

St. Patrick’s Day is a special event in Ireland. There are festivals and parades everywhere celebrating Irish culture. The biggest parade is held in Dublin, of course. It is estimated that more than a million people take part in the St. Patrick’s parade in Dublin. Actually, it’s such a big occasion that the festivities get spread over several days–not just March 17.

But often, the smallest of all villages will also have their own parades and celebrations. Local musicians will almost always be playing in these parades, in addition to visual and performing arts. Millions are expected to don their greens and head for the parades on March 17^th, finishing up the day with a visit to the pub for a pint of the best beer they can find.

The pubs and stores are all open on this day, though the post offices, banks, and other offices are closed. The Irish people have been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for more than 1,000 years.

For the traditional Irish family, it would always start with a visit to the local church in the morning and celebrations in the afternoon. This is one reason why the pubs all over Ireland open a bit late in the day. The traditional families would also have a meal of cabbage and bacon.

The first parade was interestingly not held in Dublin or anywhere else in the country. It was held in New York City in 1762 when Irish soldiers from the British military marched through the city in order to reconnect with their Irish roots and unite all the Irishmen who were serving the British army. It was a hugely successful event, thus prompting the opening of “Irish Aid” societies such as the Hibernian Society and the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick. It eventually became a wonderful tradition, which is now followed all over Ireland and elsewhere too by the Irish people.

St. Patrick’s Day is a religious event, but it has become more of a day of fun and an occasion for the Irish to celebrate, as well as for everybody to come out on the streets and enjoy.

Events in Ireland

The Irish have some of the best events in the world happening all through the year. The Best events in Ireland is the World Rally Championship. This event will be held in Belfast and a number of other countries across Ireland. The dates for this event are January 29 to February 1 and thousands of people will be in attendance at each stage of the championship. If you like cars that go fast and drivers that show great skill then this is the event for you. The locations chosen for this event are some of the Ireland’s most splendid countryside. You may to join the driver for a run at each stage. One of the more popular festivals in Ireland is the St. Patrick’s Festival which is hosted on March 13-17. Held in Dublin this festival is an official celebration and it commemorates a national holiday, St. Patrick’s Day. Although the celebrations are held throughout the country, the one in Dublin stands out as the best of them all. There are walking parades, parties and other spectacles. This is a joyous time across the mostly catholic country and many visitors have a great time at the festival so much so they keep coming back year after year. If you are a lover of the sea and maritime events and history then the Celtic European Festival of the Sea is a must see for you. Held in various locations across the country it celebrates Irelands maritime heritage. There will be many sailing crafts and row boats and competitions held. This is really good fun.