Prince Frederick, MD – If you think St. Patrick’s Day is as big a deal in Ireland as it is in America you would be correct. The capital city—Dublin—hosts a four-day festival that not only honors Patrick, but Irish culture.
The fest got underway Thursday, March 16 with a walking tour known as “in the footsteps of St. Patrick.” Among the other events planned for day one is the Festival Ceili, a celebration of Irish dancing. This is not a strictly spectator event as audience participation is strongly encouraged and instruction is provided in the many traditional Irish dances.
Friday, March 17 will be highlighted by the festival parade through the streets of Dublin, starting one minute after high noon. Street theatre companies will perform along the route. Also on the march will be an array of bands—from Ireland and other nations, including the United States. Friday evening, and for the subsequent two evenings, “Greening the City” will occur. Landmark structures such as the nine centuries-old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College and the Convention Centre, will all be bathed in green light.
Saturday, March 18 Dubliners will host the Festival Treasure Hunt, where teams of up to four vie for prizes by completing the trail, and the “Spirit of Dublin Craft and Food Fair,” which will be held at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery.
On Sunday, March 19 at noon the St. Patrick’s Festival 5 Kilometer Road Race will be run.
While Dublin, a city with a population about 100,000 people shy of Baltimore, will see its pubs packed with revelers during the festivities, at least one group is trying to temper the binge with a calmer celebration. According to the international news service The Independent, an organization called “Alt Events” has planned a celebration for the nondrinkers in Dublin. “I remember coming into St. Paddy’s Day when I was younger, and it was fun,” Alt Events Co-Director Danny O’Leary told Independent reporter Nicola Brady. “But as soon as you reach an age where you understand what’s going on, the city’s just full of people puking in the streets. It’s chaos—it’s proper apocalyptic levels of pissing in people’s doorways. And everybody laughs it off, saying that’s what it is to be Irish, but no, you’re pissing in someone’s doorway.”
Some of the sober events the organizers have planned include acoustic music, open mic storytelling, board games, video game tournaments and movie screenings. According to the event’s Facebook page, admission is by password.
For more information on Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Festival, visit the event web site.
Even if you aren’t Irish have a happy and safe St. Paddy’s Day!
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com