What does St. Patrick's Day mean to you?

[eurocrat]

This is an interesting question (well I would say that since I started the thread ..). I always had a pretty spectical view of the National Holiday unitl I actually left Ireland.

Between the jigs and the reels (geddit!?) this will the 3rd time I will celebrate St Patricks Day away from home. I spend months waiting for the day to arrive and love the build up of informing the interested locals about St Patricks and his magic Snake banashing ways.

Of course being away does make you a wee bit more weppy eyed than usual, so I was wondering what it means to the rare specimen of Irish man, the one that lives in Ireland?

Is it anthing more than a p:ss up and a day off work? A glorified bank holiday?

Also, I am interested in the views of our non-Irish posters and especailly anyone who has spoken to the new migrants in Ireland about the importance of the day.

[Wednesday]

I was wondering what it means to the rare specimen of Irish man

Men only?

[badinage]

I'm firmly in the 'its a load of sh*te' school. Its a great advertisement for the country, in terms of raising our international profile, attracting tourists, portraying ourselves as easy-going and fun-loving, but within Ireland itself its just sh*t

[ireland2004]

Having studied him and the Celtic Church during lower 6th during many an interesting and exciting ( ) RE class I have to say I love the auld bugger since I got 90/90 in the exam paper he came up in 8)

Is it anthing more than a p:ss up and a day off work? A glorified bank holiday?

For most people, including me, that's exactly what it is

[eurocrat]

Men only?

Yes, I am only interested in Irish men... Actually I meant it in the biblical, mankind sense.

[Carrier]

I'm firmly in the 'its a load of sh*te' school. Its a great advertisement for the country, in terms of raising our international profile, attracting tourists, portraying ourselves as easy-going and fun-loving, but within Ireland itself its just sh*t

Where do you normally go on Paddy's Day? I never used to really rate it, but then three years ago it was splitting the trees out so me and a few mates went on a daytime pub crawl around Dublin. The atmosphere was terrific and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Street performers everywhere and music blaring out of packed pubs. I've went out to town every year since and I've discovered that it's always like that.

The only thing I don't like about it is what Harry Browne from Village aptly described the 'self-laceration' that follows. Many people can't handle the idea that we all go out drinking that day. The media in particular tears into the Irish nation because of a piss-up. While the rest of the world is celebrating Irishness we're dragging ourselves over the coals for it.

[Libero]

I spend months waiting for the day to arrive and love the build up of informing the interested locals about St Patricks and his magic Snake banashing ways.

Yes, foreigners are often bemused at our national saint's contribution to biodiversity.

What really impresses them though is the fact that not only did St. Patrick banish all the snakes from Ireland, he also managed to remove all fossil evidence of them ever having existed. If it wasn't for my faith in Patrick's all-encompassing powers of species removal, I'd probably think that the snakes never existed anyhow and that the story is a load of old ************************e.

[eurocrat]

What really impresses them though is the fact that not only did St. Patrick banish all the snakes from Ireland, he also managed to remove all fossil evidence of them ever having existed. If it wasn't for my faith in Patrick's all-encompassing powers of species removal, I'd probably think that the snakes never existed anyhow and that the story is a load of old s****.

Apparently it is something got to do with Ireland (is island) being seperated from the European mainland many years before Snakes were, er, invented.

I think its great story though. Something very Irish about it. A good story is more important than the truth.

I'd love to know if there was any evidence at the time of displacement of Irish shepards in the workforce.

[Carrier]

What really impresses them though is the fact that not only did St. Patrick banish all the snakes from Ireland, he also managed to remove all fossil evidence of them ever having existed. If it wasn't for my faith in Patrick's all-encompassing powers of species removal, I'd probably think that the snakes never existed anyhow and that the story is a load of old s****.

Apparently it is something got to do with Ireland (is island) being seperated from the European mainland many years before Snakes were, er, invented.

I think its great story though. Something very Irish about it. A good story is more important than the truth.

I'd love to know if there was any evidence at the time of displacement of Irish shepards in the workforce.

And what about moles? Why have we no moles?

[Nils]

And what about moles? Why have we no moles?

Thanks to St Ulric, I imagine.

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintu02.htm