If you’re tired of the same old local parade you’ve visited every year, why not broaden your horizons and jet off to the US, Canada, Argentina or, eh, Birmingham?
By Iarla Duignan
St. Patricks Day is just around the corner, a day to celebrate our country and display national pride.
What will most of us do? In true Irish style, we’ll probably take a trip into town (missing the parade) and get hammered. As the day moves into night we’ll sing songs and raise a few pints in salute to our snake-banishing patron saint.
But for those who want to experience a true celebration, some cities outside Ireland seem to take the holiday more seriously than any place in this country (outside Dublin). Even though there’s a chance that most of them end up the same way that our day begins (on the beer), their parades and surrounding events are to the fore.
If you can get your skates on and can book a late getaway, we’ve found a couple of ideal places in America to head to, or nearer to home there’s always England’s second city.
Or for something completely different, you could join the biggest Irish community in Latin America or the French in Canada and see if they can keep up.
And if it’s too late for this year, you can always be ahead of the game when it comes to ideas for next year.
New York
St. Patricks Day is serious business in New York, perhaps only second to Dublin in terms of the festivities that go on. The Big Apple does not disappoint. Americans, with Irish ancestry or not, come out in force to celebrate “St. Patty’s Day”, as they like to call it. About two million people turn out every year to watch the parade that is around 150,000 strong.
What’s going on: It all kicks off with the parade, which starts at 11am. Although lots of the main St Patrick’s Day-related concerts and events take place during the weekend before the main event, you can still hit up any of the Irish pubs and celebrate with the many other willing participants. Pubs like McSorley’s Old Ale House, the oldest pub in operation in the city (since 1854), will be in full flow for the night.
What else to do: You won’t find it hard to find stuff to do in the city that never sleeps. If you are tired of being drunk, you can visit any of the sites, Times Square, Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building to name a few. If you are lucky enough to get a ticket, a visit to Madison Square Garden to see the rejuvenated Knicks could excite. Of course, there is the shopping, even if only to keep your girlfriend happy.
Travel and Accommodation: Return flights with KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) are from €417. Accommodation is as low as €13 a night for a dormitory in a hostel right up to a few hundred for a cool room in a cool hotel such as the W New York on Union Square, depending on your desire.
The most Irish thing you can do while you’re there: Head to McCormacks on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, one of a select number of Irish pubs that often shows live GAA games from back in the homeland.
Montreal
Canada’s oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in Montreal in 1824 and the good folk of this French-speaking city are said to have celebrated the day as far back as the 1700s. The oldest and biggest gathering in the country, it’s a good chance to see how the French (well French-Canadians) celebrate this most Irish of days. The multi-cultural city will be flowing with Irish and fellow revellers.
What’s going on: The parade takes place on 20 March and is the main attraction again. Hundreds of thousands brave the early spring cold to watch it. The freezing crowd that turned up last year got more than they bargained for when a participant in the parade was pinned under a float and died. Apart from that tragic incident, it’s usually good, clean fun. The usual debauchery ensues, with Guinness being drank by the boatload.
What else to do: Canada is hockey country, and Montreal’s local team the Canadiens are among the playoff teams in the NHL. So as the season moves towards the business end, catching a game is a must. If you cannot get a ticket to the stadium, go to one of the many bars and experience the locals in their element.
Travel & Accommodation: A return trip can be found for as low as €383 with Air France. You stay in one of the many hostels in the city from €13. Towards the other end of the accommodation spectrum, you can get a room in the centrally located 4* Le St Martin Hotel and Suites for €130 (at time of going to print).
The most Irish thing to do while you’re there: Without doubt, you need to stop by Hurley’s Irish Pub on Crescent Street for beer, music and craic. You won’t be alone, however. This place gets jammed from fairly early in the evening.
Buenos Aires
Argentina may not spring to mind when you think of Paddy’s Day but it is home to the fifth-largest Irish community outside of Ireland itself and Latin America’s largest celebration takes place in Buenos Aires. This will probably be different to any 17 March 17 you’ve experienced. Unlike in some other parts of the world, many of the locals don’t even try to claim any Irish heritage, but they seem to enjoy the day that has become known as Dia de la Cerveza or “Beer Day”
What’s going on: Festivities begin with a late parade at around 6pm; all-night street parties in the heart of the city follow, with up to 50,000 people involved. The Hurling Club of Buenos Aires also hosts a dinner and dance night, although not necessarily on 17 March.
Buenos Aires (continued)
What else to do: Tango, find your inner rhythm and dance with the locals. If you want to give tango a whirl, head to the Centro Cultural Torquato Tasso. Having worked up an appetite, indulge in some famous Argentinean steaks and visit the Bombonera stadium, home of Boca Juniors.
Travel & Accommodation: South America may be a little too far to travel for a few days but if you are backpacking through the continent, be sure to plan your trip to experience the night. Accommodation is very cheap, as low as €7 a night for a hostel in the city. Alternatively, a night at the well-regarded 5* Caesar Park Buenos Aires will set you back around €200 per room.
The most Irish thing to do while you’re there: Could there be anything more Irish than the aforementioned Hurling Club of Buenos Aires?
Savannah, Georgia
There are a few cities in America with strong Irish links that are known to have extravagant celebrations for our patron saint, but Savannah in the south of the country might not jump off the map at you. Yet, behind New York, Savannah has the second largest gathering for the day in America. 400, 000 Irish and honorary Irish join the local celebrators there every year. The first parade took place as far back as 1813. Of course, there is a certain southern twist to things, not only do they dye the fountain green, but also the ‘grits’ they eat.
What’s going on: The day begins predictably with the parade. The 187th parade in the town begins at “10.15 am sharp” on Saturday 19 March, according to the official website. After that, there is an all day and night party on River Street. The street is full of clubs, pubs and restaurants and there is live entertainment throughout. You have to be 21 to partake, so leave the kids and picnic basket at home!
What else to do: “America’s Most Mannerly City” doesn’t appear to offer much else other that being pretty and being in the “Top 100 Places to Retire”, as devised in Money Magazine. So a one day visit will do just fine. There are plenty of motels offering a good value option when you need to get some shut-eye before you mosey back down to the neighbouring state Florida to finish your trip. Travel down to Miami (stopping off at Disneyworld if you wish) for some sun, sea and, eh, sex.
Travel & Accommodation: A return trip with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Miami can be yours from just €490. Accommodation around Savannah begins at around $50 per room for the night, but if you really want to splash out and relax in an opulent, typically Southern setting you can stay at the 5* Mansion on Forsyth Park from around €350 per room per night.
The most Irish thing to do while you’re there: Head down to the Civic Center on Friday 18 March for the Ceili in the upstairs ballroom. There’s a $5 ‘donation’ to get in.
Birmingham
The biggest St. Patrick’s Day in the UK can be found in Birmingham. The city has a strong Irish community and over 100,000 revellers are expected to join the parade celebrations. The parade is widely accepted as one of the largest in the world, after Dublin and New York.
What’s going on: The city has taken no shortcuts in their festivities. Although the parade is on the Sunday before, the festival as a whole is a six-day event. The launch party is on Friday 11 March and continues through the week, with various concerts and other Irish-themed events. The event concludes on Paddy’s Day with events on all day to keep you amused (and drunk!).
What else to do: The obvious thing to do is to see a football match, with four Premiership teams in the Midlands. If you are in the mood for something different to get away from the wild scenes that will likely take place during St. Patrick’s Day, you could check some of their museums. Otherwise just continue on your merry ways like only the Irish can.
Travel and Accommodation: Budget airline Ryanair flies direct to Birmingham, so you won’t have to break the bank. Ditto Aer Lingus. The Hatters Backpackers Hostel have beds for as low as €15 a night, but for a more refined time you can stay at the Hotel du Vin in the city centre, which has a seriously extensive wine list and should set you back £150 per room per night (unless you fancy the Principle Suite with its own private gym, which will cost you nearer £400 per night).
The most Irish thing you can do while you’re there: Stick around to cheer on Kilkenny’s Mikey Drennan who is part of the Aston Villa Academy and is the current FAI U16 Player of the Year.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
