March 17 is St Patrick’s Day and it is remarkable that the feast of the man who did more than anyone to convert the Irish from paganism to Christianity is celebrated with gusto in a country that is incomparably less Catholic than it was a generation ago. The nature of the festivities in Dublin is now anything but religious and sometimes wilfully counter-Christian, but there is an element of continuity: it is still an excuse for drinking to excess.
This year the organisers of the official St Patrick’s Festival – focused on the parade in Dublin on the day – declare that: ‘Initially, it was a solemn commemorative feast day dedicated to paying tribute to the saint, but over the years, St Patrick’s Day has evolved into a vibrant celebration encompassing the richness of Irish culture. Today, it is a joyful occasion marked by parades, performances and diverse expressions of Irish heritage; a multicultural international event that is committed to displaying contemporary and traditional arts, culture and heritage of the Irish people and the people who call Ireland home.’
