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8 Ways St. Patrick’s Day Is Celebrated In Ireland

8 Ways St. Patrick’s Day Is Celebrated In Ireland

How is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in Ireland? Well, having lived in Ireland for 35 years, I can tell you it varies from person-to-person.

Some families go all out on March 17th, attending St. Patrick’s Day parades and hosting Paddy’s Day parties (it’s a public holiday in Ireland).

Others, myself included, like to avoid the crowds and head for the mountains.

Below, you’ll find all of the various things people do on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, from the weird to the wonderful!

Some quick need-to-knows about how is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in Ireland

Before we answer the question ‘Do they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland?’, let’s get you up-to-speed quickly:

1. It takes place on March 17th, but…

Although the date for St. Patrick’s Day is set in stone each year, the day of the week changes. So, for example, if St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday then you’ll likely get Paddy’s Day themed events taking place on the Friday and Saturday before. 

2. There are parades in most counties

St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland is marked by many towns, villages and cities with parades of varying sizes. For example, an enormous parade takes place on St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin while Kilkenny has a monster six-day festival. Waterford still has their parade after becoming the first Irish city to parade way back in 1903.

3. It’s not as big as you might think

People tend to think that Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day is a widely celebrated event, but that isn’t the case. Yes, many people attend parades and St. Patrick’s related events, but many just enjoy a day off or begrudgingly head into work for the day.

8 things people tend to do on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland

Dunseverick Castle

Photos via Shutterstock

Now that we have the need-to-knows about St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland out of the way, it’s time to look at what takes place.

Below, you’ll find the different ways that St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland is celebrated and no – people don’t just spend the day in one of the many pubs in Ireland

1. The many Parades of all shapes and sizes

St Patrick's Day parade Ireland

Photos via Shutterstock

The sheer volume of parades that take place should answer the question ‘Is St. Patrick’s Day big in Ireland?’

Parades are a key part of the many St. Patrick’s Day traditions and no two parades are the same!

In Limerick, if you stick around until the evening you’ll be treated to a spectacular fire show while over in Sligo their parade has been going for over 50 years and features drums, dinosaurs and much else.

In Dublin, a massive parade takes place during the morning that gets broadcasted on national television.

2. The ‘greening’ of landmarks

green buildings dublin

Photos via Shutterstock

The colour green is synonymous with St. Patrick and up and down the country you’ll find some of the most famous landmarks in Ireland lit up in green for a few days around March 17th. 

From the Rock of Cashel in Co. Tipperary to Athenry Castle in Co. Galway, it’s at night when they are at their most vivid, so try and head out when night falls. 

Dublin is, of course, where you find the most concentrated amount of ‘greened’ landmarks. 

Related reads: Check out our Irish slang guide and our Irish jokes guide 

3. The wearing of green

green for st patrick's day

Photos via Shutterstock

Many places in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day are one big sea of green and you’ll find the likes of Penny’s and other shops selling a mix of green gear in the lead up to the big day.

Whether it’s a bright green top-hat (false orange beard is optional…) or a flamboyant green skirt, pop it on and head off on your merry way.

You’ll find some people wearing very elegant, carefully selected green garments while others (I’ve done this many times in the past…) will chuck on anything green, regardless of how ill fitting it is.

Related reads: Why the original colour associated with St. Patrick was blue, why we wear green on St. Patrick’s Day and why some wear orange

4. Shamrocks on the lapel

shamrocks on lapel

Photos via Shutterstock

OK, so I’ve struggled to find an accurate photo to accompany what is one of the more traditional nods to St. Patricks Day in Ireland.

When I was a kid, I’ll always remember my grandad walking into the house after mass with a bunch of shamrocks pinned to his lapel.

The shamrock is one of the iconic symbols of Ireland and you’ll see it quite frequently around St. Patrick’s Day (and during the rest of the year if you walk into any tourist souvenir shop). 

5. Drinking

Sligo pubs

Photos by The Irish Road Trip

So, although many people won’t have a drink in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day, many will.

Personally, I’d only drink on Paddy’s Day if it was a Friday or Saturday and there was something on.

However, many people head into Ireland’s towns, villages and cities as they know they’ll find the pubs buzzing away.

Here are some St. Patrick’s Day drink guides to tip into:

6. St. Patrick’s Day foods

Irish food for st patrick's day

Photos via Shutterstock

Although there are plenty of traditional Irish foods that are widely eaten in households across Ireland, others are often saved (or avoided…) until special dates throughout the year.

Dishes like stews and cabbage and bacon can be found on many tables throughout the year. However, certain traditional foods are often brought out as a way of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.

Boxty and coddle are two of the most popular, however, I recall us being served mash potatoes with coins wrapped up in tinfoil hidden in the potato as a kid!

7. By doing very un-St.Patrick’s-Day-related-activities

Dunseverick Castle

Photos via Shutterstock

St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday and, as we mentioned earlier, there’s no pressure to do anything if you don’t want to. 

In fact, many people, myself included, tend to dodge the sizeable crowds that travel to Ireland in March.

Personally (I live in Dublin) I’ll head to either the Wicklow or Dublin mountains or head off on one of the many day trips from Dublin.

If I am coaxed to head into the city, I’ll try and head to one of the pubs in Dublin with live music

Related read: Here’s what it’s like in Temple Bar on St. Patrick’s Day.

8. St. Patrick’s Day masses

Down Cathedral

Where St. Patrick is believed to be buried

Many people attend masses on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.

1000 years ago, simple religious services were all that took place on March 17th when St. Patrick was held in great reverence. 

These days, St. Patrick’s Day prayers are very common and it’s a good way of perhaps avoiding all the pomp and finding the spiritual side of the country’s national day. 

In fact, you could even double up by attending mass in the morning then joining the parade straight afterwards!

FAQs on how is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in Ireland

We’ve had a endless questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in Ireland?’ to ‘Is Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day crazy?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below. Here are some related reads you should find interesting:

Is St. Patrick’s Day big in Ireland?

Yes. St. Patrick is Ireland’s Patron Saint and March 17th celebrates both him and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. In recent years, St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland has become a celebration of Irish heritage and culture, with parades and festivities taking places in many towns and villages.

How do they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland?

Many will begin the day with a St. Patrick’s Day mass celebration before attending a parade. Green is traditionally worn as is the wearing of a shamrock on the lapel. Some people will meet friends for drinks in a pub while others will have family over for dinner.

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