FACES OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY DUBLIN 2019

 

 

Growing up in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day was one of my favourite days. It was a national holiday so we got the day off from school. Hurrah for that! It was a ‘Holy Day’ as we used to say, so we all headed to church, proudly wearing our St. Patrick’s day badges and any bit of green clothing we had. Some folk had great big bunches of real-deal shamrock on their lapels. We’d sing the Hail Glorious St. Patrick hymn with gusto and my mind would be wandering to my birthday party later that day. Since my birthday was so near St. Patrick’s Day, I usually celebrated it on the 17th. My Delisha day!

Gorgeous golden daffodils were out in full bloom, and so cheery to gaze upon. Some had little orange faces. Orange and yellow together is about as happy as it gets! Spring sunshine warmed our faces, and with the thought of summer not so far away, everybody was happy happy happy. Such a glorious time of year!

This year, I thought it would be fun to celebrate the day in Dublin. It was my first time being back in Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day since I left 25 years ago! How things had changed. Once upon a long time ago, it was all about the Parade. This year, I didn’t see much of the Parade because I wasn’t up in time to secure a spot. But, much to my sweet surprise, the fun all happened after the marching bands had finished their proudly parades.

All day long, Dublin was Alive Alive O with the sounds of laughter and happy smiling faces. I didn’t see one sour face in the crowds of sweet joyful people. Even the doggies with their green tutus had smiles on their faces and happy wagging tails! The sense of fun, unbridled joy, and perfect hope all around brought me back to those fields of golden daffodils from my childhood. And the sweet anticipation of a party to come…

I never in my life saw so much green! Seriously. Fellows wearing green suits covered with shamrocks, red wigs everywhere. Girls with black Guinness dresses and white blonde wigs posed as pints of Guinness! It took me a while to get that one. The creativity and effort expended in the costumes was something I will never forget!

Spending St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin is going to be an Annual fixture in my diary! If you want a day of unbridled fun Dublin is the place to be!