Top 5 Cities to Celebrate St Patrick’s Day
Date Posted: 17/03/2022
Whether you are of Irish heritage or not, St. Patrick’s Day is a day where people from all walks of life join together and celebrate globally. To celebrate the day, we have rounded up the top 5 cities for celebrations across the world.
It’s no surprise that Dublin would be at the very top of our list. The capital of Ireland can’t be matched for the authentic display of national pride. Despite the fact the day was declared an official holiday in 1903 the first official parade wasn’t until 1931- though unofficial parades were held prior to this.
The day is filled with a large scale parade that spreads across Dublin city. You’ll find thousands of Irish people wearing green and enjoying a drink or two throughout the city centre, along with an array of buskers and Irish traditional music filling the streets and pubs. It’s no wonder Dublin is top of many people’s bucket list for a St Patrick’s Day visit.
New Yorkers have been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day long before it was declared a holiday in Ireland. The first recorded parade dates back to 1762 and to this day over 150,000 people participate in the annual parade. On the 17th of March you’ll find up to two million spectator’s line the streets of 5th Avenue to witness the spectacle that is the New York’s St Patrick’s Day parade.
The parade can last up to five hours, where you can watch local marching bands, dignitaries and local civic groups march through the city. Later in the day many people head to Manhattan where there are a number of Irish bars within walking distance of each other and you can truly get into the Irish spirit with a pint of Guinness in every pub.
Buenos Aires
Known as Buenos Aires Celebra Irelanda in Argentina; Surprisingly, Buenos Aires is home to the fifth largest Irish population in the world. With such a large Irish population it is no wonder that the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are some of the biggest.
The celebrations are held annually and take over ten blocks streets in Buenos Aires, with a massive 500,000 joining in on the celebrations. Along with celebrations throughout the streets, The Hurling Club of Buenos Aires, which is widely popular among Argentinian of Irish descent also holds a yearly dinner dance to honour St. Patrick’s Day.
Boston
With a huge 22.8% of the population being of Irish descent, it is no surprise that Boston is a top destination to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Surprisingly, St. Patrick’s Day is officially a holiday in Boston because it happens to land on Evacuation Day but typically the parade is held on the Sunday closest to the 17th of March.
There are a number of activities you can experience in Boston on the day itself. You can raise a glass of Guinness while listening to traditional Irish music on a sightseeing cruise around the Harbour or explore Boston's Irish heritage along the Irish Heritage Trail. For something a little bit different you can immerse yourself in Irish culture at the Irish Film Festival that is held over a period of 4 days around St Patrick’s Day each March.
Monserrat
Possibly the most unexpected destination for St Patrick’s Day celebrations is Montserrat. Known as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, it is the only country outside of Ireland where the 17th of March is a public holiday. The Irish heritage in Montserrat dates back to the 17th century when Monserrat became a haven for Irish Catholics persecuted by other Caribbean Islands.
The holiday is marked with a massive celebration over the course of ten days filled with parades, lectures and parties. There is a mix of Irish and African celebrations with some traditional Caribbean entertainment throughout the ten day celebration. You’ll find an abundance of stalls selling traditional food and Guinness being served in bars - visitors to the island can even receive an Irish shamrock stamp on their passports!
