St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop. Each year, on the anniversary of his death, his life and influence is celebrated across the world. The associations between March 17th and alcohol run deeper than one might expect. The binge drinking tradition began with the old St Patrick’s Day custom of “drowning the shamrock” or “wetting the shamrock”. This involves a shamrock being put into the bottom of a cup, which is then filled with whiskey, beer or cider. It is then drank as a toast – to St Patrick, to Ireland, or to those present. The shamrock would either be swallowed with the drink, or be taken out and tossed over the shoulder for good luck. This has developed over time and nowadays, despite the huge amount of patriotic drinking that’ll take place in Dublin city centre, you’d need more than luck to find a shamrock at the end of any of those pints.
If you are that way inclined, the Guinness Storehouse is hosting their annual St Patrick’s Day Festival, taking place over the course of the long weekend. The event promises to be so much more than just a rushed drink in a packed pub, with marching bands and food canapes expected to make an appearance. However, this year the 21st annual St Patrick’s Day festival seems to be ditching the drink for the rest of the weekend in favour of many different cultural and educational events.
The National Museum of Ireland, the National Wax Museum and Dublin Zoo have organised their annual St Patrick’s Day events, which are guaranteed to provide all the family with some festive fun. On the other hand, if spending time with loud and excitable kids isn’t your scene, there are plenty of highbrow cultural exhibitions taking place at the same time. In Temple Bar and IMMA, art collections by Nick Miller and Amie Siegel will be on display. Some renowned theatre productions are taking place in the Abbey, the Pavillion Theatre and Smock Alley in the evening as well, such as Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and The Stars. Seeing as we’ve been getting such great summery weather lately, spending the day outdoors might seem like the best way to spend your day off work or college. As long as you have an emergency rain jacket in tow, the Dublin Discovered Boat Tour sounds like a fantastic day out. However, any sports aficionado will agree that the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championship Final is the most nationalist activity to commemorate the snakes being cast off the island.
The fun doesn’t end after the day itself, in fact it only begins, as many of the aforementioned events continue to run all weekend along with many others. The Laughter Lounge has a “best of Irish” night running until Friday, with a lineup jam packed with fresh Irish talent. Friday and Saturday night events include film screenings in the IFI, Projects Arts Centre and the Light House Cinema, including the award winning 2015 film North Circular Road. For the year that’s in it, there are several 1916 celebrations on over the weekend for those of us that can’t wait until the Easter bank holiday. The highlight of which may be Revolution 1916: The Original & Authentic Exhibition taking place all weekend in the Ambassador Theatre. For a chilled end to the long weekend, the St Patrick’s Festival at the Curragh Racecourse might be the best way to go, even if you are nursing a sore head from your games of drowning the shamrock.
