Irish flags It鈥檚 hard to believe we鈥檝e already passed March 17th 鈥 the big day in Ireland. I鈥檇 been looking forward to St. Patrick鈥檚 Day since I arrived, and now it鈥檚 already behind us. No wonder everyone gets so excited for this day; when Ireland goes green, it feels like the entire country is in celebration mode.
People are dressed in green from head to toe, and the festive energy is everywhere. What鈥檚 interesting is that St. Patrick鈥檚 Day isn鈥檛 just celebrated in Ireland 鈥 other parts of the world join in the fun too, with just as much enthusiasm.
St. Patrick鈥檚 Story
St. Patrick鈥檚 Day isn鈥檛 just a cultural holiday, though 鈥 it鈥檚 a religious one too. The story of St. Patrick is fascinating. According to legend, Patrick was a boy from either Wales or Scotland who was captured and brought to Slemish Mountain in County Antrim as a slave. While there, he tended sheep before eventually escaping and returning home. After that, he had a vision calling him to return to Ireland and spread Christianity.
Patrick鈥檚 influence can still be seen across the island. From the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary to Croagh Patrick in County Mayo, there are numerous places that tie into his story. His legacy is especially strong in Northern Ireland, with key sites like Saul Church (where he is said to have built his first church) and the cathedrals in Armagh dedicated to him.
Learning about all this added more meaning to the holiday and gave me a deeper appreciation for Irish culture.
Nancy Blake's To fully embrace the St. Patrick鈥檚 Day spirit, my friends and I decided to dedicate the whole weekend to the festivities, especially since the holiday fell on a Monday this year. Our first stop was Dublin, where we took part in the St. Patrick鈥檚 Festival Treasure Hunt organized by Dublin City Council. It was a fun and unique way to explore the city. We hunted down spots like the Hungry Tree and the General Post Office, all while learning more about Dublin鈥檚 history and culture. And yes, we totally won the prize for the best team鈥檚 name 鈥 鈥淟imerick Lads鈥 for the win.
After our day in Dublin, we returned to our beloved base in Limerick to catch the International Band Championship on Sunday, March 16th. It was such a fun event, filled with energy and music. The next day, we were all set for the main parade. We woke up early to join in, and it was amazing to walk through the city center with thousands of people cheering us on. At first, we were a little nervous, but the crowd鈥檚 energy was so welcoming that any nerves quickly faded. We were lucky enough to walk right behind a local band, which made the whole experience even more exciting.
I鈥檇 highly recommend that future exchange students take part in the parade. It鈥檚 such a great way to get an authentic Irish experience, and it鈥檚 definitely something that we'll all remember for years to come.
-By Lili Hinner, Sweden
