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And yes, on the 17th of March, there are incredible parades across Ireland, show stopping Irish dancers giving it stacks for the entire week, and gallons of Guinness consumed in record time. But here at Irish Homelands, we’ve been reflecting on the hilarious, eclectic mix of traditions and practices that have become part and parcel of all Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations. The subtle, but necessary ways of the Irish people, that to an outsider, may seem a little bit mad.

Let us break it down for you.

SHAMROCKS WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

The shamrock is a long-standing symbol of Irishness and Irish culture, and on Saint Patrick’s Day Irish people wear it with pride. Every grocery store that stretches from Donegal to Cork sells it in the lead up to the big day, and if your granny doesn’t wrap it in tinfoil and pin it to your shirt pocket, are you really Irish at all? It’s commonplace for Irish people to begin Saint Patrick’s Day with a bright green, lucious bouquet of shamrocks pinned to their chest. Once an hour or two has passed, the shamrocks are mostly withered and looking extremely lacklustre, but we don’t let that stop us!! It’s tradition, and we’re stubborn, so the withered shamrocks remain!

“MA, HAVE YOU SEEN MY GREEN SHIRT?”

Legend has it that if you don’t wear something green on Saint Patrick’s Day, every Guinness tap in Ireland will dry up overnight! We’re not sure what truth there is in that, but the Irish people aren’t willing to take any risks. No matter the shade, and no matter how much it clashes with the rest of your outfit, it’s wholly essential for all Irish people to don their one green item of clothing for the entire day on the 17th of March.

IT WILL CERTAINLY RAIN ON YOUR PARADE

If there’s one thing guaranteed in Ireland, it’s rain. But do we let that stop us? We certainly do not! The show must go on. You’re really and truly not fully Irish until you have watched a parade come to a halt, due to extreme weather conditions and a broken down tractor. The poor Irish dancers are performing their hearts out, like a scene out of flash dance and you can hardly see for the rain in your face. But sure, isn’t that all part of it!

IRELAND SHOULD HAVE SHARES IN GREEN FACE PAINT

No matter how old you are, or how serious you may think you are, green face paint dons the face of every man, woman and child across the country on Saint Patrick’s Day. Whether you go for a poorly drawn shamrock on the side of your cheek or a full face (ears and all!) of greenery, the faces of Ireland turn green for the day and we absolutely love it. Children and adults alike, return to work and school with a strange tinge of yellow across their faces, where the face paint has not totally been removed and it’s entirely accepted as “part of the craic”.

The quirky traditions and hilarious goings on that Saint Patrick has gifted us will be treasured for years and years to come. And it seems that our ancestors felt this way about Patrick too, as they named so many of our townlands after him. Knockpatrick, Templepatrick, Kilpatrick and Glaspatrick to name a few! Saint Patrick’s legacy will forever live on in Irish people’s hearts and Saint Patrick’s Day is a great way to express our love and adoration for the land.

If you have grown up in Ireland, each townland will have it’s own traditions, it’s own happy memories and it’s own way of celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. We would absolutely love to hear from you, to find out some of the wonderful Saint Patrick’s Day memories you have of celebrating in your townland.

Make sure to get in touch with us via email or Instagram, and share with us some of your favourite moments from years gone by.

We can’t wait to hear from you.

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