St Patricks Day in IrelandTo be honest before the Millennium, St Patricks Day was no big deal in Ireland, the whole razzmatazz surrounding it now was more an invention of ex patriots worldwide finding an excuse to celebrate their Irish roots on the day. Particularly in the USA where a huge amount of Irish people emigrated during the famine. So here in Ireland, we would never actually drink green beer or dye whole rivers green like in Chicago. We have unfortunately adopted the whole silly hats thing.......
Traditionally you donned your homemade St Patricks badge or fist of shamrock went to Mass and then if you lived near Dublin went to the parade to watch the marching bands and the odd float, now St Patricks is a huge festival lasting a week, with various cultural and fun events for all the family and visitors, with an estimated 500,000 cramming the city centre for the parade on St Patricks Day. There is even a huge fireworks display at alternative venues throughout Ireland, but Dublin is the place to be if you can make it on the day.
Down the country, although there are lots more localised parades, St Patricks Day is still more likely to celebrated traditionally especially on the islands and in Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) areas with traditional music and dancing, GAA matches. Drinking too but that’s okay, its every Irishmans perogative and a custom to be able to break their Lenten fast on St Patricks Day.....
So despite what you may have heard there is a lot more to Ireland & St Patricks Day than shamrocks, leprechauns and crocks of gold. The following pages tell you the real story behind St Patrick, his feast day 17th of March, and all the traditions associated with it that celebrate our culture including.... St Patrick,the legend who drove the snakes out of Ireland Hill of Tara, ancient seat of the high kings of Ireland Fairies & Leprechauns, the truth..... Holy Wells, pagan origins, christian cures.... Shamrock, Or is it clover? how to tell the real thing.... Irish Parades, their history & the story of Macnas.... Irish Dancing, and the legend of Riverdance. Traditional Irish Music, and where to hear it for free. Gaelic Sports, football hurling & camogie. National Anthems, pride of our nation.
Irish stew, soda bread etc ... Guinness, how to tell a good pint? Irish Coffee, what makes a good one? Our other great national drink, Tea...! This information is also available as a free iPhone app which you can download here St Patricks Day -unplugged It includes details of events taking place in Dublin and around the country for St Patricks Day 2011. Beannachti na Feile Padraig – Happy St Patricks Day 
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