Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday celebrated on March 17 around the world. It is named after Saint Patrick, the most recognized and famous of Ireland’s patron saints. For hundreds of years, this holiday has been celebrated in many different ways around the world, including parties and street parades. There are great cheap hotel deals in bustling cities that are really going to town for this celebration.
In Ireland, the entire country has week-long celebrations with something for everyone. In Dublin there are street concerts with live music, funfair, face painting, clowns, fireworks and the St. Patrick’s Day parade. There are also around 4,000 street performers who entertain the masses in street theater and family carnivals. Visiting a local Irish pub on St. Patrick’s Day is a must, where you can eat a tasty traditional Irish stew. Enjoy typical folk music and friendly camaraderie as all the locals join in the celebrations. There are plenty of cheap hotels and luxury hotels in and around Dublin to complete your stay. A popular attraction in Dublin is the Dolmio Big Day Out, where 150,000 people congregate in Merrion Square for a huge concert and funfair.
While in Dublin, a visit to its number one tourist attraction, the Guinness Storehouse, is a must. This historic site has become a national treasure for the Irish community. Arthur Guinness founded his ‘St James’s Gate Brewery’ in 1759. It has been the home of Guinness ever since and is currently the largest stout brewery in the world. At the brewery, guests can see the world’s largest pint glass, get an insight into the art of brewing, and learn how to pour the perfect pint. You may even want to have a drink in the Gravity Bar and take in the panoramic views of Dublin.
The New York parade is world famous, not only because it is the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, but it is also the oldest civil parade dating back almost 250 years. Every year more than 150,000 marches by firemen, policemen, regional associations and musical bands take to the streets. The streets are packed with two million spectators, all watching the parade march down the 1.5-mile-long route along Fifth Avenue. The five-hour procession begins on 44th Street at 11:00 a.m. and continues past St. Patrick’s Cathedral on 50th Street, past the Irish American Historical Society on 83rd Street, and ends at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 86th Street.
Choosing a great Irish pub to visit in New York is difficult because there are so many, but there are a few that stand out. Molly’s is a warm, traditional style pub with sawdust on the floor and an open fire. You can get reasonably priced pints of Guinness and enjoy a homemade Shepherd’s Pie. Doc Watson’s is another Upper East Side favorite. With a garden to the rear, guests can enjoy a drink outside in the summer. Plus, there’s a pool table and live traditional Irish music on Sunday nights. For those who want to learn more about the Irish way of life, there is the New York Irish Center. Here they offer activities such as ceili dancing, Irish dancing classes, Irish language classes, whistle classes, fiddle classes and now Irish mythology and visual arts classes for children.