I have a confession- during Ireland’s most famous holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, I was riding a gondola in Venice. While I have no first-hand experience, based on the second-hand accounts I heard its celebrated similarly to how it is in the United States, with a few key differences. Notably St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday for Roman Catholics in Ireland celebrating St. Patrick as the patron saint of Ireland. However, the holiday is still marked with parades and celebration of Irish culture. Since Ireland’s celebration of St.Patrick’s is now known throughout the world it’s also treated as opportunity to show the world Ireland’s innovation and create a positive global image.
While I missed the big day, I have had plenty of exposure to other aspects of Ireland’s unique culture. A few months ago, I attended a dinner featuring traditional Irish song and dance. It included several traditional instruments including the harp and uilleann (or Irish) pipes, both invented an Ireland. There was also Irish step dancing, which is similar to tapdancing with the most prominent difference being that in traditional step dancing the dancer’s upper body never moves.
Ireland also has its own sporting traditions. Like many parts of the world football (or soccer as we call it) is very popular. Rugby games are also common are played in Ballsbridge, a Dublin neighborhood not far from campus. Ireland also has a few uniquely Irish sports, such as Gaelic Football, the country’s most popular sport in terms of attendance. I’m not a sports expert by any means, but it’s basically a cross between soccer and rugby. If you’re into sports, I highly recommend checking out a game!
