Any traveler who has spent time in Ireland knows one thing for sure; Irish people are amazingly friendly, hospitable and they sure know how to throw a party. And those parties don’t come any bigger than on 17th March, St Patrick’s Day, when Ireland honors its patron saint. Cities around the world turn shamrock-green and millions of glasses fill with the black of a pint of Guinness.
Here’s our guide to how St Patrick’s Day is going to be celebrated across the globe so you can join in the fun wherever you are in the world.
Dublin – the main event
The 2017 Festival Parade through the streets of Dublin is as authentic a St Patrick’s Day celebration as you’ll find anywhere in the world. Irish music, street theatre and pageantry create an amazing atmosphere as the streets of Dublin are thronged by huge crowds. There are also a huge number of citywide events across a four-day period to enjoy.
At SXSW – Austin, Texas, USA
There are a huge number of St Patrick’s Day events across the US, perhaps most famously in Boston and Chicago. But it also coincides with the massively popular SXSW event in Austin, Texas. So if you’re heading for the Texan capital you can still make time to celebrate all things Irish with a showcase of music from Ireland on 17th March.
Sarajevo Irish Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The western Balkans might not seem a likely area for a celebration of Irish culture, but you’d be surprised! 2017 sees the 2nd Sarajevo Irish Festival with exhibitions and cultural performances across the Bosnian capital. You can bet the rugby will be on somewhere to watch as well!
Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba, NSW, Australia
Australians love a street party almost as much as the Irish so it’s not surprising that St Patrick’s Day is celebrated across Australia at events in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. But if you’d like to enjoy some traditional Irish folk music how about making the trip to Katoomba, as the Blue Mountains Music Festival is well represented by artists from Ireland in 2017.
St Patrick’s Festival, Barcelona, Spain
Who doesn’t enjoy a few days in Barcelona? If you’ve been promising your wife or girlfriend that romantic trip but you’d still like to get a pint of Guinness or two in as well then, you’re in luck, St Patrick’s Barcelona is a three-day celebration of Irish culture with events you can enjoy as a change from the regular sight-seeing.
Irish Week, Moscow, Russia
St Patrick’s Day is surprisingly big in Moscow, who knew? So much so, that they have an entire week of events, including a dedicated film festival which is in its 10th year. There’s also the main parade which celebrates it’s 25th anniversary in 2017 and take place in the capital’s Sokolniki Park on 18th March. Over 15,000 people are expected to attend.
St Patrick’s Festival, Montserrat, Leeward Islands
Everyone knows a cold Guinness goes down best on a hot day. So if you want guaranteed warm weather for your celebrations, where better than the Caribbean? The island of Montserrat is the only country other than Ireland which holds a national holiday on St Patrick’s Day, which stems from the large proportion of Irish settlers when the colony was founded in 1628. As everyone has the day off you can be sure the impressive list of festival events will be well supported.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Tokyo, Japan
It’s not only Moscow celebrating the 25th anniversary of all things Irish, Tokyo is as well. Apparently, events in the Japanese capital include a demonstration of the traditional Irish sport of hurling. If anyone can explain the rules of that sport, they have our respect. If they can do so in Japanese they’re a genius!
With street events such a big part of St Patrick’s Day celebrations you can’t guarantee getting a consistent local wifi signal and you’re definitely going to want to share the experience with your friends. So, it’s an ideal scenario for using a Tep portable wifi device. Not only will you save money on ridiculously expensive data roaming charges, but you’ll also be able to capture all of the festival atmospheres from your mobile phone and share instantly. The device is only $9.95 per day for unlimited data usage, plus, you and your friends (or loved ones) can all share one device (up to 5 gadgets can connect at a time). Tep’s portable device is festival-friendly too, it will slip into a handbag, pocket or rucksack, and could save you from losing your friends in the chaos, as the internet will always be at your fingertips. Find out more or buy/rent a device here.
