Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland
St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated annually on March 17th, is not just another day in Ireland; it’s a momentous occasion deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of the Emerald Isle. While it’s often associated with parades, green attire, and merry-making around the world, the essence of St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland extends far beyond mere festivities. It’s a time to honor heritage, pay homage to tradition, and unite in a shared sense of pride!
Today we want to give you a brief history of Paddy’s Day, an idea onf how it’s celebrated around the world and some inspo on how you can spend St’ Patrick’s Weekend here in Cork!
A bit of history:
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures. But for all his prevalence in culture, his life remains somewhat of a mystery. We know that he was an English bishop known to have brought Christianity in Ireland and there are legends revolving around him, for example that he made snakes flee away from Ireland.
We must thank him for our national symbol: the shamrock, he was the one who brought them and turn them into the national flower of Ireland (explaining the Holy Trinity.)
How is Saint Patrick celebrated around the world?
St. Patrick takes place on Sunday 17th and is celebrated all around the world, in the United Kingdom, in Canada, in Brazil…especially amongst Irish diaspora in the US (immigrants brought by the Great Famine in the mid-19th century). In fact, the Great Famine brought 70% of the Irish immigrants in the USA, 28% to Canada and 2% to Australia. Irish people were so proud of their culture that they integrated it in their new countries, and we can say that this is why the Saint Patrick’s Day is so famous around the world.
In addition, it produces a lot of money. Indeed, 13 million pints of Guiness are consumed worldwide hence 5 billion dollars are generated.
What’s in Cork during Saint Patrick’s Day?
Cork Saint Patrick’s Day parade: as the 2024’s theme, the Saint Patrick’s Day parade of Cork chose “Pure Imagination”.
“Delve into the magic and wonder of Cork and bring to life your mysterious magical world. Hold your breath, make a wish, count to three – and let your imagination soar.”
It is an annual tradition presented by the wonderful and varied communities of Cork. This year, the parade will take place the Sunday 17th of March at 1pm. It is wheelchair friendly and Irish Sign Language interpretation will be provided as well near the new Grandstand location on Patrick’s Street.
During the parade, you can see sporting groups, dance schools, new communities, long-established brass bands, and special guests from around the world.
Cork Saint Patrick’s festival 2024 at Triskel: 15th and 16th March of 2024.
Paul Noonan will be singing on Friday 15th and Kingfishr will perform on Saturday 16th. The festival is supported by Fáilte Ireland and the ticket per day costs 25 euros.
Afternoon Ceílí Mór at Cork City Hall: On March 16th, from 3 to 6pm, it’s an Irish event where you can experience the traditional Irish music with piano, fiddle, flute, and accordion melodies, and learn traditional Irish dance thanks to the dance teachers. Don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes!
Circus High Jinks at Elizabeth Fort:
On March 16th, from 12 pm to 4.30pm, come and meet the Circus Factory for a show of Circus High Jinks int the medieval and majestic Elizabeth Fort, off Barrack Street.
From fire juggling on a tightwire to exquisite hand balancing displays, come and enjoy the towering aerial acrobatics, and why not try hula hoops or juggling thank to Circus Disco.
Some sneaky snakes are hiding from St. Patrick at Elizabeth Fort, can you help us chase them away? Join us for a St. Patrick's Weekend Adventure at Elizabeth Fort!#elizabethfort #keepdiscovering #StPatricksFestival @corkcitycouncil @pure_cork pic.twitter.com/FQVxsHV5MV
— Elizabeth Fort Cork (@ElizabethFort_) March 15, 2024
It’s the perfect time to dive into Irish traditional food.
St Paddy’s Day is a day to have fun, to drink and to enjoy good food with your friends too. It’s a good opportunity to try some traditional dishes from the country.
Irish stew, Colcannon, a pint of Murphy’s…so many things to try and you’ re getting lost, where to find it? Which restaurant? Don’t you worry we’ve made you a selection of places where you can enjoy traditional Irish food and drinks in a festive and lovely environment.
For a traditional immersion with typical food like Colcannon (a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes with cabbage) or boxty (traditional Irish potato pancake), we would recommend stopping by for lunch or dinner at Market Lane.
If you’re fond of meat but still want to try some Irish food, the Oliver Plunkett has a very nice atmosphere, very lively and a diverse menu that will satisfy either your desire to try Irish local food or hunger for a good steak.
Sin É, located on Coburg Street is one of Ireland’s finest traditional pubs. It is one of the few venues in the city with daily traditional Irish music sessions. If you want to get an authentic taste of Ireland’s music or perhaps a locally brewed pint, this is your spot.
The Pav on Carey’s Lane will be the gem of this St. Patrick’s Day weekend. They have a jam-packed line-up from traditional Irish music to some of the best bands in Ireland. Don’t forget to try their craft cocktails, they are said to be exquisite.
That’s all from us this week, if you’re not in Cork but the exitement of Paddy’s Day has convinced you to take the plunge and come to study English, you can reach out to us here.