By James Bowler

St. Patrick’s Day through the eyes of an Irishman

Mar 17, 2014 | 6:39 AM

St. Patrick’s Day means a lot of things to a lot of people, but for many celebrations in Canada the main concept is wearing green.

That’s not the case in Ireland. Those who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the smaller villages do not actually wear green or associate the holiday with it.

“It’s a tourist thing,” said Ian Fitzgerald, a man visiting from Ireland. “When we have parades the kids dress up in green and gold but the adults don’t.”

Fitzgerald said the country’s national holiday is celebrated in a different way.

“In our town the band starts at 5 a.m., they march around the town, followed by mass, and then the priest’s house for breakfast,” said Fitzgerald.

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He added with a laugh, they used to be served hot whiskey by the priest, but that had to change.

“When they were to go out at 12 again for the parade, there were a few that were incapable, so that stopped, so now its tea and coffee.”

Fitzgerald said the main symbol of St. Patrick’s Day for the Irish is wearing a shamrock stem on their shirt.

“You go out St. Patrick’s morning, pick your shamrock put it on your lapel and that’s it,” said Fitzgerald. “One day of the year.”

He said that green beer is another tourist attraction that can be found in the bigger cities, but in the villages residents generally have a few regular-coloured beers together.

“And then they head home for supper, and its bacon and cabbage or corn beef.”

To hear the whole interview, listen to the Region at Noon on 900 CKBI.

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @journalistjim