Think about last year’s St. Patrick’s Day for a moment—you probably didn’t even wear green since the asshole who pinches everybody was also working from home. If you’re like me, you knocked back a few bottles of Guinness and called it good.
This year in Dublin, the party starts the weekend before, assuming it doesn’t get canceled again—You can feel the anticipation when you listen to locals argue about the new, state-mandated minimum price on alcohol. Really, who’s business is it, if I want to indulge my inner-alcoholic once a year?—In Ireland, a thing is more likely if it isn’t too good to be true.
Wearing goofy, gold-fringed apparel and drinking green beer seems like a strange way to celebrate a holiday, so you might wonder what it’s really about. I for one, am not entirely sure.
Official festivities include boat races, live music, a 5k run, street theater and finally, a parade that will drop you at the footsteps of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral—what to pray for when you get there is up to you. I can’t speak for the faithful Irish but I’d ask for endurance.
From there you can head back along the parade route to Trinity College where the local party undoubtably continues or, push on north to sample the pubs and restaurants that line the River Liffey. Assuming you’re not too pissed to hold your phone steady, you can get a selfie at the Temple Bar and view the iconic river.
Wherever you celebrate, it’s okay to pace yourself and eat along the way. Look for cabbage and corned-beef or lamb stew made with Guinness. If you can’t be bothered, then at least put some soda bread into your pockets. You can munch on it while you pause to listen to folk singers along your way.
On paper it’s a celebration of the coming of christianity to Ireland. Since Patrick is the patron saint of the Irish and protection, it makes some sense for the rest of us to join in for a day—if only to protect us while we over-do it.
If you’re not a believer you’ll have to supply your own meaning. That means extra shamrocks, fringed in gold-glitter and drinking just to keep up. We haven’t resolved the origin question of green beer, but after two years of pandemic restrictions, it might be right to skip the meaning and just celebrate.
Whatever makes it a St. Patty’s day to remember will be exactly what we need.
Dublin, Ireland
