6 Tips for an Authentic St. Patricks Day (In Ireland)
“May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. May good luck pursue you each day and night.”
Two college-aged Americans make their way through City Center Dublin carrying an Irish Flag on St. Patrick’s Day.
Go to Ireland for St. Patricks day
There is no substitute for it. The best and most authentic place to celebrate Ireland's national holiday? You guessed it... in Ireland itself. The foundation of this famous day and its Celtic roots are seeped in tradition, religion and Irish culture. Given that the whole country gets the day off work or school; Paddy's day festivities begin about 4 or 5 days prior to the 17th and even a day or two after. Festivities in Ireland, are broader and more diverse than just a big parade and drinking. It’s storytelling, céilís, feast day celebrations, live music, hikes, and time spent with family in the wider community supporting local pubs and artisan businesses etc. St. Patrick day has a real, tangible meaning in this country that you can experience just by stepping foot on the Island during the season. A meaning that comes from the recognition, celebration or nod to our ancient past when our pagan Celtic ancestors were introduced to the Catholic church, two very important pillars in the identity of most Irish. It's also when many Irish will remember that not very long ago, our country was not our own, our culture was being supressed and remember our ancestors who fought to keep it alive. Our history and national pride is very much in the hearts of our people during this time and can be felt strongly by those who come to celebrate with us
2. Travel Beyond Dublin (The Big Shmoke)
The three peaks of An 'Triúr Deirféar'(The Three Sisters in Irish). They can be observed on the northwestern end of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland.Don't get me wrong here, the parade in Dublin City is great. The energy is electric and the craic will be mighty. But are you getting the best and most authentic paddy's day in Dublin City? I and many of my fellow Dubliners would say no. Even many Dublin locals choose to avoid the City on this day in fear of being "charged out the arse for pints", in fact, you will see many more tourists than Irish in the city. Every bar is packed, queuing for an over-priced pint of Guinness will take ages, and ]here will be quite a bit of chaos everywhere you look. If you like that sort of thing, then go for it! But we'd recommend leaving the city behind for a couple of days to celebrate paddy's day with locals in the true spirit and authenticity that captivates those who experience it.Small enchanting towns such as Westport in Mayo, Clifton in Connemara, Wicklow town just down the road and even the picturesque Kerry town of Dingle or Kenmare will make great locations to spend to immerse yourself in to local traditions!
3. Consider climbing Croagh Patrick in the spectacular Connemara.
Croaic Patrick at dusk.
Follow the footsteps of St. Patrick himself and consider embarking on a scenic hike of Croaic Patrick. A mountain in the middle of rural farmland located in the beautiful Connemara region. Tis a great way to spend the morning of Paddy's day hiking in the fresh rural Irish air while soaking up the incredible views of the wild Atlantic and the rolling hills. All in all its about a 4 hour undertaking in total while you witness a countless amount of ancient remains of structures and monuments scattered across this sacred mound. Many dedicated pilgrims enjoy the steep hike bare foot to honour their patron saint every year in July. It is said that Patrick spent 40 days fasting at summit for lent and some even believe this were he rid Ireland of its snakes. Although the later is likely myth, there is still a certain sense of awe and reverence about this place that might make you feel that something really special may have happened here long ago.
4. Pick the right local pub(s).
The lively nature of Irish pub hospitality is at this point world famous but not all pubs are made equal unfortunately. An Irish pub or a good "local" will be made famous by its bar staff, drink prices and a good pub lunch but the most important thing for the success of a pub is the life that is brought by its patrons. The best way to find these gems among the subtle differences of a "tourist trap", is to ask a local! Make sure that you spend your time in establishments that have live traditional Irish music, Ceile's and a fair price for Guinness. Pubs that have reasonable drink prices will be where the local Irish will flock. Cultural immersion is key here, strike up respectful conversations with friendly patrons and you can be sure to be taken under their wing for a night of "craic agus ceol."
5. Don't wear green, Dress like a local!
A lot of folks that fill the pubs and bars in Irish are dressed in their best. Everybody wears their nicest outfits, coats and hats on Patrick's day. This is mainly because traditionally the Irish would be at mass or church that morning! You may find the odd person wearing green or painting their face with a shamrock but it is certainly not mandatory on paddy's day here like it is in the US. Essentially green is grand as long as it's not tacky or gimmicky and I would strongly advise against pinching anyone.
2. It’s Not All About the Drinking…
As mentioned previously, Irish people celebrate paddy's day for many reasons. It's definitely not a holiday centred around getting blacked out in Ireland like it can be for a lot of people in the US. In fact, due to it being a feast day in the Catholic church, most Irish abstained from drinking on Paddy's day until the 90's. So just a word of advise, you wont get anywhere with locals by bragging about your alcohol intake and for obvious reason NEVER order an "Irish car bomb".With all that being said, buying a round of Guinness on paddy's day for some patrons will never be forgotten and might just earn you some loyal pals for the remainder of your time in Ireland.
