Saint Patricks Day

This is a special day in the year for the Irish people and those with a strong Irish ancestry. It’s a time to celebrate and have the craic. It’s also time to remember Irelands leading Saint and an opportunity to understand more about his life and teachings.

For most people today it is a chance to have some fun – to wear green, enjoy music and song and to have a great party with food, drink, family and friends.  The nature of the celebrations are pretty similar the world over. In Ireland itself, the day starts as a public holiday and the ‘wearing of the green’ - green clothes and the shamrock. The original colour of St. Patrick was blue but green became the recognised colour for St. Patricks Day in around the 17th or 18th century. Some believe that this change in colour was influenced by Irelands green landscape others by the Shamrock.  The shamrock is a central part of St. Patricks Day as, if legend is correct, it was used by St. Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.

Parades and Parties

Next are the parades and parties, from small local village festivals to the extravagant parade in Chicago where they even dye the river green! But the essence of the parade is the same the world over – music, noise, fun, participation and celebration. In the larger parades you’ll get to enjoy Irish Pipe Bands, decorated floats, fancy dress costumes, marching bands, stilt walkers and so much more.  The Dublin St. Patricks Day parade is an amazing experience – one not to be missed if you’re on holiday in Ireland.  The parade route is 2.5 kilometres long and the parade itself takes about 2 hours! But the shortest parade in the world takes place in Dripsey, County Cork, whose parade runs over just 100 metres and travels between the two village pubs.

The biggest celebrations outside of Dublin are in Downpatrick, County Down where St. Patrick is rumoured to be buried. Visitors to County Down can visit the St. Patricks Centre and pick up the St. Patricks Trail which winds it way from Armagh City through Newry, Downpatrick and on to Bangor. Holiday in Armagh or Down and you really are in the area where Irish Christianity is said to have started.  Not too much is documented about St. Patrick’s life. Historians believe that he was born in the South West of England just before the end of the Roman rule of Britain at around 400AD. His early upbringing was relatively privileged, living in a large Roman villa and cared for by an important and wealthy father.  At around 15 years of age Patrick was kidnapped by Irish slave traders and taken, it is believed, to Antrim to work as a shepherd.  In his early twenties Patrick dreamed that an angel told him to escape slavery and he made a 200 mile journey, probably to Waterford, making good his escape. On returning to England he trained as a priest and quickly progressed to Bishop. Another angelic message made him decide to return to Ireland landing in County Down where he committed himself to teaching Christianity to the predominantly pagan Irish people.  Many fables and legends have been told about St. Patrick; that he drove the snakes from Ireland and that on the day of his death night didn’t fall in Ulster for that night and the next 12 nights, but for many he is simply the founder of Irish Christianity.

St. Patrick's Country

If you decide to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year why not also learn more about this extraordinary Saint and the region that he chose as his home.  Northern Ireland is one of the most popular visitor destinations in island of Ireland. It is a place of beautiful landscapes, stunning buildings and intriguing history.  Armagh is the oldest of Ireland’s cities and has a long Christian heritage. See the Royal Mound at Navan and the Hill of Armagh where St. Patrick founded his main church and where now stands the Church of Ireland Cathedral.  Travel onto Downpatrick and you find Down Cathedral and St. Patrick’s grave or visit Saul to see the first church in Ireland. Climb Slieve Patrick to see the largest statue of St. Patrick in the world or trace his footsteps on the St. Patrick Trial.

Travelling to Northern Ireland is far easier today than it was for St. Patrick, with frequent  flights into Belfast International Airport and ferry terminals in Belfast and Larne.  If you’re planning to visit the historic Northern Counties you can find fantastic Northern Ireland self catering cottages, from Antrim and Derry in the north, Down and Armagh in the east and Tyrone and Fermanagh in the west.  

So whether you’re lucky enough to be spending St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland or you’re joining one of the many events held world wide – have a happy St. Patrick’s Day.