St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in Ireland. As universities and colleges, like many businesses, are closed on March 17, you’ll have the day off to make the most of St. Patrick’s Day while studying in Ireland.
One of the most traditional activities is spending time with people you care about, so it’s a great day to spend with friends. Whether you join them at a festival, visit a pub, or try a traditional Irish meal, there are lots of fun ways to spend the day. Keep reading for insider tips on how to do St. Patrick’s Day right—and a few things to avoid.
Thinking of studying in Ireland? Check out our list of its four most affordable student cities.
Go to a Parade or Festival
Communities across Ireland have held St. Patrick’s Day festivals and markets since the 1600s. Today, international students can attend the multi-day St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, where over a million people enjoy music, dance, theatre, and a signature parade every year. Galway also holds a festival with street performers, music, and lots of tasty food. Celebrations happen throughout Ireland, so watch for event announcements on social media or on campus.
While many communities have St. Patrick’s Day parades, it’s actually a tradition Ireland adopted from North America. These parades were started by Irish emigrants to the United States, first in Florida in 1601 and then in cities like Boston, Chicago, and New York City.
These parades celebrated Irish culture and united Irish immigrants. They were also a show of solidarity in response to anti-Catholic sentiment faced by the Irish community. Eventually, after the American Civil War (in which thousands of Irish-American soldiers fought), Americans of all backgrounds joined in.
Tip: If you’re looking for a more traditional celebration, try visiting a smaller community. You’ll likely find traditional music, dancing, and even horse races.
Ready to go? If you’re from one of these countries, you don’t need a student visa to study in Ireland.
Raise a Toast
Looking for green beer in Ireland? You’ll probably only find it in tourist bars, but it is traditional to enjoy a pint on March 17. However, before the 1960s, the pubs were all closed on St. Patrick’s Day, so people would celebrate at home or when visiting friends. Meanwhile, other folks found a creative workaround: between 1927 and 1961, the only public place where you could get a drink in Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day was the Royal Dublin Dog Show. Let’s just say it had many ticket holders who only attended dog shows once a year!
Instead of green beer, try a local beer or cider. Brewing in Ireland has a 5,000 year history, and St. Paddy’s is a great day to try something local. Guinness and Smithwicks are two of the most well-known breweries, but Ireland is also home to over 75 independent microbreweries.
Tip: You can also join in with locally-made and delicious non-alcoholic options.
Image Credit: Scott Dexter, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Enjoy a Hearty Meal
While Irish-American families would eat corned beef and cabbage to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Irish families were more likely to keep cows for milk production instead of meat. More traditional Irish meals include bacon, potatoes, and cabbage, or lamb stew served with colcannon (butter mashed potatoes with cabbage mixed in). Shepherd’s pie, cod pie, and Guinness and beef pie are other popular options.
Preparing for a long day? Try an Irish Fry for breakfast (see the picture above): eggs, mushrooms, baked beans, potatoes, and sausages or bacon fried up in a cast-iron skillet.
Wondering about other popular meals around the world? We’ve counted down the top foods for international students to try in the United Kingdom, Australia, and North America.
Avoid These Awkward Moments
Don’t Pinch People
While wearing green is welcome, don’t pinch people who aren’t wearing green. The pinch is a North American tradition, not an Irish one, and might lead to an uncomfortable situation where you have to explain yourself very quickly.
Dress for the Weather
March in Ireland can be cold and rainy. Wear layers, and bring an umbrella or raincoat.
Wearing green or a shamrock accessory is pretty common on St. Patrick’s Day. However, please don’t wear the Irish flag as a dress (again, you’ll be cold), or dress up as a leprechaun. At best you’ll look touristy, at worst every Irish person in the pub will find your outfit disrespectful.
Carry Cash
If you’re going out, have some cash on hand before March 17. Banks are closed on St. Patrick’s Day, and ATM lines will be long in larger cities. Some pubs have a minimum spend for credit cards, and may not split your cheque. Also, if you’re planning to take a taxi, many only take cash.
Avoid Same-Day Travel
Don’t try to travel into a city like Dublin, Cork, or Limerick on St. Patrick’s Day while studying in Ireland. Some roads will be closed, and the roads still open will be really busy. Try to arrive a day or two before the holiday.
Words Matter
If you want to be casual, call the holiday St. Paddy’s Day or Paddy’s Day, not St. Patty’s Day. “Patty” is short for Patricia, not Patrick. It’s also wise to avoid potato jokes or attempts to imitate an Irish accent.
Spending St. Patrick’s Day in North America? Here are some fun holiday ideas.
We hope that these suggestions for things to do on St. Patrick’s Day while studying in Ireland help you plan a great holiday. From quiet to adventurous, there’s a celebration waiting for every kind of student.
Are you thinking about studying in Ireland? In the 2024/25 academic year, Ireland welcomed over 44,000 international students. And it’s no wonder why, as all of Ireland’s universities rank in the world’s top 3%.
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