St Patrick’s Day in Temple Bar: Live updates from Dublin’s most famous pubs
Whether you're Irish or not, everyone loves celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day - a tradition worldwide that sees millions of people coming together to drink, dress in green, eat traditional Irish food and celebrate the country's heritage.
But if you can't, do the next best thing and join The Independent as it spends the day in Dublin's most iconic drinking area, Temple Bar.
Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a celebration in honour of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick.
The day of celebration, which marks the day of Saint Patrick’s death, was originally a religious holiday meant to celebrate the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and made official by the Catholic Church in the early 17th century.
Observed by the Catholic church, the Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church, the day was typically observed with church services, feasts and alcohol.
Alcohol consumption has always been an integral part of Saint Patrick’s Day as historically, the day was celebrated with a day-long lift of the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol - which has contributed to the present-day drinking.
Interestingly, Saint Patrick wasn’t actually Irish. He is believed to have been born in either Scotland or Wales and sold into slavery in Ireland as a child.
In 1903, Saint Patrick’s Day became an official public holiday in Ireland.
This year, and every year, it is celebrated on March 17.
Someone is trying to get a sing song going, but he's chosen "(Something Inside) So Strong" which is an odd choice. It's now Summer of 69. Wait, now it's Can't Take My Eyes Off You. Dena is singing along. I am not. "I love how you're in hell and I'm like 'This is great!'"
I've never been this sober around so many drunk people. I have a newfound respect for my sober friends. Is this what it's like to be pregnant at a party? I'm thinking back to so many weddings attended by pregnant friends. I'm sure I was insufferable.
My friend Fionn is in agonising pain with a kidney stone. He's on a lot of pain medication, and can barely move. He hasn't been able to get out of bed all day. I'm a little bit jealous of him.
I’m a bit worried that I’m coming off as a huge curmudgeonly grump, so here are some amazing places in Temple Bar that are well worth checking out…The interiors shop April and the BearThe Temple Bar Food Market, held on a Saturday, where you can get half a dozen oysters and a glass of wine. Or a truly excellent crêpe.The indie cinema IFIThe Gallery of Photography, a gorgeous little space with regularly changing exhibitsThe Gutter BookshopBanyi for brilliant sushi
We've reluctantly moved on to the next spot, and there's an aggressive snog going on in the doorway. It's an almost confrontational snog, with a lot of grinding involved. It's a little bit like a cut-price rendition of the Dirty Dancing employee party. It's making me feel a bit queasy.
The snoggers put us off, and it's now physically impossible to get into any bar. Just looking at the crowds through the windows is giving me the start of a panic attack. So we've gotten chips from Burdock's instead. They are very, very good.
I just found out that both Alan Rickman and James Spader have eaten in Burdock's, which warms my heart. Edith Piaf, too. But it's time to bite the bullet, and get back out there. I really think I've only one more of these in me, lads. I'm getting too old for this.
First sighting of public urination! Honestly, I'm surprised it took this long.
Wait! Second, third and fourth in quick succession. They're all standing side by side. I don't know how they're going to wash their hands, but I'm sure they will. Right?
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