Feeling Irish on St Paddy’s Day

(Updated)

St. Patrick’s Day festivities have been in full swing all day. Many Irish and Irish at heart headed to the pubs before noon — and have been celebrating all afternoon. Some, in authentic Irish fashion — and others with traditions of their own.

This is what you’d call an authentic Irish celebration.   Not quite so much green, a few more fisherman knit sweaters.   And absolutely no “paddywhackery”.  What’s that, you ask?  Well I’m guessing you’ve seen a lot of it today.

Hamilton started celebrating early. The first pint poured at 11am at Slainte Irish pub. Music got hands slapping and toes tapping with patrons.

“Getting together with some family and friends, having a beer and having a great time.”

“Having a few drinks and just celebrating.”

A few drinks indeed, but at an authentic irish pub, not a drop of green beer may be drunk on Saint Patrick’s Day.

Gerard Wogan is the Manager of Slainte’s: We don’t serve green beer because back home. You don’t really get green beer unless you’re in a tourist pub. So we stick to that to try and give the closest experience.”

The Irish community detests the green gimmick so much, they even have a name for it.

Mike Quigley is the Vice-President of the Irish Canadian Club of Hamilton: “Paddywhackery.  All the green beer and leprechauns and stuff like that.”

While it may not be green, the beer is plentiful. Slainte’s expects to serve over 15-hundred pints of Guinness by the end of the night.

Meanwhile, at a pub that’s simply, “Irish for the day”, they’re nearly running out of green food colouring.

Here at McMaster University the beer is flowing and students don’t care whether or not it’s tradition, they just want it green.

“It’s Saint Patrick’s day.  Green beer.”

“We love green beer — food colouring and green beer.”

Whether you’re wearing a sequined bow, or a fisherman knit sweater — drinking beer that’s gold or green — happy Saint Patrick’s day. May the luck of the Irish be with you.