BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?

Subject: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: BobS
Date: 17 Mar 02 - 04:40 PM

I had always heard that the hype around St Patricks day was largely an American phenomenon....however a collegue is travelling Dublin this week emailed me that it was NUTS over there. Apparently it IS a big deal in Ireland? Was it always?

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: GUEST,Ard Mhacha.
Date: 17 Mar 02 - 04:50 PM

Bob,About twenty years ago it was mainly a Sporting occasion, Football and Hurling Finals at Croke Park. The Parades have really taken over the past decade and it has become more OIRISH with a US slant. Marching bands and numerous floats depicting every aspect of Irish life. I am more into the Sports side of the day, but the Parades are viewed by thousands. This year for the first time London had a Parade and viewing it to-night on TV it also attracted thousands.Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: Paddy Plastique
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 04:31 AM

20 Years ago, I was still in shorts - but I reckon in hindsight - the parades I used to enjoy then were inspired
by the American example, as AM says. Since I've allegedly grown up, I've never enjoyed Paddies Day too much - what your friend
describes as NUTS is probably the frenzied boozing - it's a lot like New Years Eve - people feel obliged by law to
have a good time - and end up trying far too hard. My recent memories (all Dublin) are of streets sticky with cider and can spillage
from the 'knacker' drinkers (open air drinkers - usually fairly young), bars like the Black Hole of Calcutta and impromptu bouts in
all weight categories from about mid-afternoon on.. under the WBBO (World Boozed-up Boxing Organisation)
Recently too, there are a lot of tourists that travel over for the few days around PD - more and more English since the troubles wound down
along with the traditional contingents of Americans participating in the parade. (Not complaining about this aspect, the more the merrier...)
Dublin's Corporation (City Hall) have been trying to make it into more of a 'Festival' type event in the last 5 years or so
- a policy which, I think has worked well, but you still have all the baggage, as outlined..
Sorry to throw out a few of the standard stereotypes - but it's one time of the year when they ring true.
Having spent a very sober and very domesticated Paddies Day in France, this year, however, the Dublin option starts to look a
slight bit more attractive, all the same...

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: GUEST,Ard Mhacha.
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 06:46 AM

Couldn`t agree more the booze is the prevalant factor, as I say I am into Sports and the GAA finals make my St Patricks Day. Ard Mhacha

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: PeteBoom
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 08:01 AM

Agreed. The big "do" with parades and that is the result of large numbers of Americans heading "home" (never mind where they were born) for St. Patrick's Day - and finding more sedate "entertainments" than they expected.

Major sports day - in more rural areas you'll find large numbers of people going to church in the morning and stopping at the local on the way home. Some never quite make it farther of course. There are also tremendous sessions to be found wherever there are at least some musicians to play.

Favorite line from one of them - as a piper who was playing incredibly well stopped at the end of a set of absolutely screaming reels reached for his pint, lifted it to his mouth, and missed - "Ah well, good thing its my head thats "pist" and not my fingers..." (True story, 17 March, 1982...)

Regards -

Pete

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 08:07 AM

The London one was good - small enough (well 30-50,000 is small by the standards of Notting Hill. Thanks Christ, it was a bit too crowded for comfort) - small enough to be chaotic and fun. The floats were real lorries and vans - there was one with the builder's ladders still stuck on the top. (Mind, a lot of the music was crap, but who was listening?)

And it was special because it was the first time it's happened, and it wasn't over shadowed by a war going on back in Ireland, as it would have been for the past generation.

And not a drop of Guinness to be had in the Square, in spite of all the silly Guinness hats. Murphys had the bar concession. Every bit as good.

I'd imagine the Dublin one would have been affected by the fact that last year's was cancelled with the Foot and Mouth, and the Yank presence this year would have been potentially hit by the fears about flying.

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: Red Eye
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 08:28 PM

St PD in Birmigham, England attracted 95,000 people. The biggest parade anywhere outside America + Ireland. The parade was headed by NY Firemen. Well done to all for the organiastion of a truly wonderful occasion.

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 10:22 PM

I attended an Irish session in Manhattan, Kansas, United Skates of America. The bar next door was blasting something with a load o' bass, lots of college students weavig to and fro on the streets outside. We were a fairly sedate lot, but the session was in a coffee bar, and we could barely be heard most of the time above the coffeebean grinder and the milk steamer.

Still, it's the thought that counts, I spose ...

ww

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 10:42 PM

Ah yes. SPD. Here in the 'States' it is a question of "does your mother know you're Irish?"

But in the evening (spent the AM in church and afternoon walking about a park for the exercise) down to Denis Connely's Front Street Grille for a pint. No guiness but Schafley's stout is quite nice and a small glass of Bushmills (so what do ya expect it is the 'States') A good conversation with a fella who is CDing swing band music recorded in the 20's, promises to collaborate on the project. Room full of lovely young women celebrating someone's birthday, good blues band doing well. Mustang Sally gave me a start though, what with the bar decorated in green and all I thought of the Committments. Meself wearing my Cleadagh football jersey, not because of SPD but because our "girls" basketball team had won the State Championship and they being called The Lady Shamrocks and all. Had some french fries (oh, I mean chips) danced a little and went home to be in bed by 9:30 PM, in all a lovely day despite the cold and misty air. Irish rain?

CB

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: Teribus
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 02:23 AM

Is it true that it wasn't until 1972 that pubs were allowed to open in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day??

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 08:52 PM

SPD in Ireland. The commercial interests (liquor, tourism operators, etc) have taken control of what used to be a religious holiday. Its a phenomenon that occurred later in Ireland itself than in USA and elsewhere, due to Ireland's late entry into the fully secular 'modernised', globalised Western way of life. But like the Japanese and other 'westernised nations, we still are able to mentally stand back from the frenetic commercialism and observe with 'a cold eye', even as we participate. Once we lose this ability to evaluate it and start to fully believe the 'Madison Avenue speak' that serves for much of today's 'news' and information, we can all move to California where the climate they tell me, is much better.

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 08:59 PM

The big difference in England is that we're (please God) at the end of a war. It was in its way a gathering to celebrate that, and the involvement of the many English peoiple, of all colours, was part of that as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 07:00 AM

Teribus

Not sure of the date when Paddy's Day became officially wet - but 1973 sounds about right. For many years the only (legal) exception was the National Dog Show held in the Royal Dublin Society's premises in Ballsbridge, Dublin. This had the not unexpected effect of creating some unusual dog-fanciers! Brendan Behan, if I remember right, was a frequenter.

Regards

p.s. Now, don't even ask about the "bona-fides"!

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: Airto
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 07:14 AM

From Tuesday's Irish Independent (the foul weather is traditional, something to do with a preference for blue-legged majorettes):

Foul weather fails to dampen Paddy's Day fun

HUNDREDS of thousands of people ignored the miserable weather yesterday to attend St Patrick's Day parades all over the country - including more than 500,000 spectators in Dublin.

Participants included 19 marching bands from Britain, the US, Germany and Norway, while on Saturday up to 1m people thronged the city's streets for free music and special entertainment for children.

On Saturday night, thousands assembled on the banks of the Liffey for a 3,000 tonne fireworks display, however, events were marred after a young man drowned trying to swim across the river.

In New York, President Mary McAleese told an audience of over 1m people that the festival was a time for remembering those who could not be at home, and that the day symbolised much of what it meant to be Irish.

In London, tens of thousands filled parts of the city centre as they gathered for the city's first official St Patrick's Day celebrations.

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, addressed the crowd, saying: "We are recognising the contribution that millions of Irish people have made to this city."

Other international venues for St Patrick's Day celebrations were Prague, Hong Kong and Moscow.

Paul Melia

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:44 AM

Have I missed something? Since when did Birmingham and London have St Patrick's day parades? We don't even have St George's day celebrations!

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:54 AM

Rather than repost the history of the holiday in this thread, I'll refer you to the Irish food question thread, where I just posted a history of the U.S. holiday from the U.S. cable History Channel.

Heathens stealing the holiday away from the church and sports types in Ireland, and celebrating it "American style" is the best thing that ever happened to the holiday. It is now quite the party scene in Dublin, which seems much truer to our Irish identity. We even allow gay marchers in our parade.

As to the "since when did Birmingham and London have St Patrick's day parades" question, all I have to say is it is about time the Irish in Britain got on board.

The best aspect to me of the celebrations in the US is the inclusiveness of the day. Everyone is Irish on St Paddy's Day is a wonderful sentiment, IMO, and one of the reasons why Irish citizens are more warmly received around the world than we deserve to be, in many instances. We have the Yanks to thank for that.

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: GUEST,Paddy Joe.
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 01:44 PM

Guest in a thread on brain dead Bush, his daughter hit back at those awful people being unkind to Daddy and the good ol Us, you wouldn`t be his Mother. Paddy Joe

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: Paddy Plastique
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 04:04 AM

Forgot about another PD tradition - just as the swallows fly south in autumn, the Irish political classes form
up into Vs and start an arduous trip West to Washington where they fatten themselves up at official banquets in preparation
for the lean season ahead. A gentle hint to any hunters on the US eastern seaboard...it's open season :->

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: Airto
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 06:51 AM

This year was the first time London has had a parade, Mrs Duck, courtesy of a grant from Ken Livingstone. I know nothing about the Birmingham parade.

The Moscow parade, incidentally, was started about 10 years ago by Irish people working there. The first parade included drag nuns and priests simulating er... exagerrated intimacy, on the back of a truck. According to a friend in the Irish embassy at the time, this incident caused great offence to the locals.

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: Snuffy
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 08:40 AM

I think the Birmingham parade has been going about 5 years now. Anyone know more precisely?

Subject: RE: BS: Is SP Day a big deal in Ireland?
From: Teribus
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 09:31 AM

Oslo's held one since 1997. Good day had by all, great fun.

Check www.oslostpatricksday.com