The celebration of St Patrick’s Day as we recognise it was first conceived outside of Ireland, named after the iconic Irish figure. Beginning with processions in the major American cities of Boston and New York in the 18th century, it was originally orchestrated by Protestant Irish immigrants before the influx of Catholic Irish oversaw its significant expansion from the 1840s. Therefore, it’s no coincidence that the globally renowned parade occurs along New York’s Fifth Avenue every Saturday.
Ireland didn’t witness its first parade until the early 1900s. During the formative years of its independence, the Irish State felt no need for such a display, opting instead for a celebratory Mass and military march. Following World War II, the day also began to include an industrial display to highlight Irish agriculture and industry.
A change began with the creation of the Dublin Tourism parade, targeted at enticing Irish-Americans to return ‘home’ and bring their much-needed American dollars with them. The spectacle was previously dismissed as a disappointing display of dull float cars and school marching bands struggling in the cold.
It wasn’t until 1996 that the celebration was overhauled, evolving into what we now know as the St Patrick’s Festival. The revamp was generally accepted as a success, though some controversy arose over further proposals to expand the festival.
However, it’s the foreign roots and global reach of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations that distinguishes it from other nations’ commemorative days. The globally recognised tradition of Irish government ministers travelling to participate, coupled with the iconic ‘greening’ of international landmarks, illustrates the shrewd commercial asset the modern Irish State recognises in the holiday. A striking aspect of recent Irish parades is the large number of participants born outside the country, eager to express their Irish heritage. The sight of a multicultural Ireland, comfortable with its recent influx of diversity and open to multiculturalism, should be appreciated and protected, particularly against a backdrop of rising nationalism.