St. Patrick’s Day has rolled around for another year, which of course calls for celebration! Whilst it’s yet another excuse to head on down the local pub for a few drinks (of Guinness, obviously!) why not do something a little different this year? If you’re struggling for ideas, then this post has you covered! But first, here’s some interesting facts that you may not know about Saint Patrick’s Day!
St. Patrick’s Day is the celebration of Saint Patrick, who is the Patron Saint of Ireland. He was born in approximately 385 AD, with 17th March 461 AD widely believed to be the date of his death. Unlike what you’d expect though, he wasn’t actually Irish! His parents were supposedly Roman citizens living in England, although the precise location where they lived isn’t known. When Saint Patrick was aged just 16, he was unfortunately kidnapped by Irish raiders who then went on to sell him as a slave. After this point, he spent many years in Ireland herding sheep. Thankfully for him, he was able to escape and embark on a journey to reach monastery in England, after which he spent 12 years getting closer to God.
In terms of St. Patrick’s Day itself, between the years of 1903 and 1970, Irish Law declared St Patrick’s Day as a day of religious observance, meaning every single pub up and down the country was closed, with no beer in sight! Thankfully, St. Patrick’s Day became a national holiday from 1970 onwards. By today’s standards, it’s now common practice to celebrate with a pint (or two!).
Now we’ve got the facts out of the way, it’s time to give you some ideas that will allow you to make the most out of your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations!
Watch Some Of Your Favourite Irish Actors
There has been some absolutely fantastic Irish actors to hit the big screen over the years, with many of them appearing in several box office hits. Here’s just some of them!
Daniel Day-Lewis
Holding dual citizenship in both England and Ireland, Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the most highly regarded actors of his generation – receiving several awards throughout his glittering career. This includes no less than three Academy Award wins, otherwise known as the Oscars. Some of his top films include Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York, and Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood to name just a few!
Colin Farrell
Born in Castleknock, Dublin, Colin Farrell is one of the most recognisable actors to appear on the big screen over the past few years. 2002’s intense crime thriller Phone Booth was his breakthrough role, which offered him a route into Hollywood. Ever since then, he’s appeared in several box office hits such as 2011’s Horrible Bosses, 2012’s remake of Total Recall, in addition to 2016’s Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Pierce Brosnan
Our list of Irish actors wouldn’t be complete with the action hero that is Pierce Brosnan! Born in Drogheda, County Louth in 1953, his most famous role was as James Bond – arguably the most famous of all fictional secret agents! Pierce portrayed the character between 1994 and 2005, before he was replaced by current Bond Daniel Craig. Don’t fancy getting your fix of 007? Then he’s also appeared in films such as 2008’s Mamma Mia, and 1993’s heart-warming film Mrs Doubtfire – a family classic!
Indulge In Some Irish Food and Drink
As we’ve already mentioned, it’s not unheard of to have a few pints at the pub with your friends to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But, given the occasion, it’s time to treat yourself a good old pint of Guinness – Ireland’s best-selling alcoholic drink! Here’s some interesting facts about Guinness that you might not already know!
Guinness has been brewed at Saint James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin since 1759, when Arthur Guinness signed a rather lengthy 9,000 year lease! Fast forward to the modern day, and it’s a huge tourist attraction, with millions of visitors flocking through its doors year after year.
Contrary to popular belief, Guinness isn’t actually black. What?! you say. It’s actually ruby red in colour, and if you hold your pint up to the light, you can actually see the deep red tinge that lurks beneath the white head!
If you don’t fancy making a trip down to your local, then why not celebrate from the comfort of your own home instead! Whilst nothing compares to the fresh taste of a freshly poured pint of Guinness from draught, it’s possible to have your very own taste of Guinness at home as it’s also sold in cans and bottles too!
If drinking isn’t really your thing, then why not consider making some Irish food instead? For example, Irish stew has been enjoyed for many years, providing a hearty meal that’s perfect to warm you up during the winter months! Seeing as we’re yet to see even a glimpse of some sunny weather yet, you might as well treat yourself to a helping of Irish stew! You could even make a large portion too, meaning there might just be plenty of leftovers available for all the family!
If you have a sweet tooth, and perhaps some extra time on your hands, then why not make some Irish themed treats? You could make yourself a cake with some green icing, or perhaps treat yourself to some Bailey’s brownies! There’s several recipes available all over the web. So, why not get in touch with your creative side?
Take Part In Your Favourite Action Activity
Before you start the drinking, why not give yourself an action fix? You’ll soon work up a thirst after taking part in a fun-filled activity, which makes that pint of Guinness all the more refreshing! Here’s just some options for you to consider:
Bubble Football
Charge around the pitch like you’re Roy Keane in the action-packed activity that is Bubble Football – sure to get the banter flowing! But don’t worry, you don’t have to have the skills of Lionel Messi to take part! You’ll get inside a giant Zorb ball with only your legs exposed. Then, it’s up to you and your teammates to stop your opponents from scoring! It won’t be an easy task though, as you’ll be bouncing and bashing around to your heart’s content! If the weather isn’t on your side, then there’s plenty of indoor venues too.
Karting
Unleash your inner Eddie Irvine and put your driving skills to the ultimate test. Karting is sure to give you a true burst of adrenaline, which makes it perfect if you have a need for speed! Getting behind the wheel and taking to the circuit, you’ll be zooming around like an F1 superstar before you know it! It’s certainly not for the feint-hearted, but it’s guaranteed to deliver competitive fun. Don’t fancy hitting the circuit? You could even take your journey off the tarmac and onto rough terrain if you’d prefer, with Off-Road Karting offering you a serious dose of epic muddy thrills!
Conclusion
All in all, Saint Patrick’s Day is undoubtedly a day of celebration for the Irish and non-Irish alike, with many people just using it as another excuse to have a few pints! But, if you fancy doing something different from the norm, then here at Geronigo, there’s plenty of venues dotted all over the UK and Ireland for you to choose from, each offering a whole host of action-packed activities! From all of us here at Geronigo HQ, happy St. Patrick’s Day!