St Patrick’s Day is the national celebration day of Ireland or Eire. It falls on 17th March every year and this year it falls on a Tuesday. There is even more to celebrate this year with the triumph of the Irish rugby team over Scotland this weekend. Irish rugby shirts are selling from £18 – just click on the image below to visit the Guinness shop. The saint’s day inevitably involves drinking down the pub. If you can’t find an Irish pub, and there’s usually one near every railway station, you have just enough time to order your Guinnes online (by clicking here) and practice making shamrocks in the head of beers if you do work in a bar (see video) . However, we’ve also found some less drunken ways to celebrate around the world – including dancing, marching and music.

Irish Rugby Shirts

St. Patrick’s Day Events

There are often parades around towns in Ireland, Scotland and the USA to celebrate gaelic culture, language and music. Participants invariably dress in as much green as possible to celebrate the “green isle”.

*Saturday 14th March 2009, 11am: Parade down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to St Patrick’s Parish Church led by Stockbridge Pipe Band. Irish music and dancing followed by a buffet in aid of the church resotration fund.

*Saturday 14th March 2009, 12:30 p.m. St. Patrick’s Day Parade, on Fourth Avenue from Jefferson Street northward to Westlake Park (between Pike and Pine streets), Seattle.

*Tuesday 17th March, 11am: The Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Cork takes place after the 11am Mass. Starts at the Super Valu and goes to the viewing stand at the East End. Led by the Cullen Pipe Band. Participants and the general public are invited to the Pearse Memorial Hall when refreshments will be provided and a host of talent on stage for what promises to be an exciting show.

*Tuesday 17th March 2009, 12 noon: Dublin. GAA legend Micheal O Muircheartaigh will commentate on the parade, which kicks off at 12 noon from Parnell Square North before weaving through the city centre, taking in O’Connell St, Westmoreland St, College Green, Dame St, Lord Edward St, Nicholas St and finishing at Patrick St. Over half a million people will flood the Irish capital for the celebrations.

*Tuesday 17th February, 1 pm: Kierans Pub 330 2nd Av. S., Minneapolis – St Paul, Minnesota. $5. 612-339-4499. For dancing an Irish jig: With three stages of music, there will be plenty of dancing going on at Kieran’s Irish Pub. The Belfast Cowboys headline the tent outside. It’s a special St. Paddy’s Day with this year marking the 15th anniversary of Kieran’s.

*Tuesday 17th February, 3 pm (doors lock at 4 p.m. for the challenge): The Nomad Pub 501 Cedar Av. S., Minneapolis – St Paul, Minnesota. Free. 612-338-6424. For real Irish drinkers: The Nomad Pub offers its annual “Break the Seal” challenge, where beer is free until someone pees. Last year, free beer flowed for two hours. Afterward: dirty limericks by the fire, cover bands and more shenanigans.

*Tuesday 17th February: Brit’s Pub, 1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis – St Paul, Minnesota. Free. 612-332-3908. Not quite Irish, but close enough: The folks behind Brit’s Pub welcome their Irish friends with a party in the third floor Clubhouse Bar. It has a great view of the Minneapolis St. Patrick’s Day parade (which starts at 6:30 p.m.). The Como Avenue Jug Band plays at 7 p.m. Bagpipers, too.

St Patrick's Day celebrations