St Patrick’s Day may be uniquely Irish but it’s now celebrated across the world.
The Irish holiday celebrates the patron saint of Ireland, who brought Christianity to the country, and as legend has it, played a pipe and reputedly drove snakes out of Ireland. He is largely associated with the shamrock due to the symbol’s representation of the holy trinity.
However, you may be surprised to know that according to some Irish people, they find the day to be celebrated even more in other countries than in Ireland itself.
Zoe Keenan, a 21-year-old Irish student at Teesside University, said: “In Ireland we celebrate St Patrick’s day but not really. It’s not as big as it is in other countries. It’s big among children, not so much the older you get. The older you get you just kind of go out to the bar, have a few drinks.”
She went on to say that the main celebration in Ireland is in the form of a large parade that occurs in most towns and cities, with the biggest being in the capital – Dublin. At these parades there will be marches with the Garda Síochána (their police), the national ambulance service and the national fire service. There are often American cheerleading squads from places with cultural roots to Ireland. It’s televised and presented by some Irish celebrities.
“It’s more for all the tourists in the country, like it’s the novelty of coming to see St Patrick’s Day from the country of origin. Obviously, we all do enjoy it, but it’s not so bigly celebrated.
“A lot of people here who go out for St Patrick’s Day dress up. They all have the greens; they all have like the shamrocks, the Guinness and stuff like that.
“It’s not really about wearing green at home, it’s just go out and look nice – like a normal going out night. You might wear, like, a bit of green eye shadow, but that would be it.
“It wouldn’t be as extreme as it is going out here, where you’re dressing up, getting into character. It feels like a festival, but not.”
When looking at Irish residents living abroad, like herself, Keenan said: “I think the Irish people who live abroad celebrate it more so than anyone. Like you get the sense of Irish pride on St Patrick’s Day when you’re living in a different country.
“I never really went out for St Patrick’s Day in Ireland. I went to the pub, but I never went ‘out out’ or got dressed up in green – or have been all into the ‘kiss me I’m Irish’ stuff.
“But when I came here, I was like, I’m Irish – I celebrate my country’s heritage. I got excited about it. I think I got more into it here, like I was excited to go out. When I found out I couldn’t go out this year, I was disappointed, whereas if I was at home, I’d be like ‘well it’s just another day of the week’.”
