# Is it true "Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day" ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434 "2003-03-01T19:34:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![neonoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e19b73/32.png) [@neonoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neonoon)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/1 "2003-03-01T19:34:46Z")
Do you feel free to march in a parade? Do you think if your kids make shamrocks at school that they are endorsing the Sinn Fein or supporting Catholicism? Does it matter if your school’s main rival is the Fighting Irish? Or is it all just a good mid-winter excuse to have a good time? ---
**Author:** ![big\_alex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e56c9b/32.png) [@big\_alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/big_alex)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/2 "2003-03-01T21:42:13Z")
I’m not! But I think all us English should celebrate St. George’s day with the same spirit. Or at least do something!.. Anything! ---
**Author:** ![parteee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9adbd/32.png) [@parteee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parteee)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/3 "2003-03-01T21:50:00Z")
I like to wear a green bowler, drink green beer and wear a “Kiss me I’m Irish” button, with my Jewish name added at the bottom 😃 ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/4 "2003-03-01T21:54:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neonoon \* > \*\* > …that they are endorsing the Sinn Fein… \*\* Because that’s a typical Irish trait? 😕 (and it’s not “the Sinn Fein” but “Sinn Fein”) ---
**Author:** ![Toffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@Toffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toffe)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/5 "2003-03-01T22:05:47Z")
I’m not Irish, but I’m hoping to share a few pints with some Irish friends around here on St. Patrick’s day. Actually, I like to join in on all national days/cultural holidays when I can. It’s not necessarily because I feel part of their culture, I just think that national cultures are wonderful things and should be celebrated. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/6 "2003-03-01T23:43:16Z")
Being half Icelandic, and 1/16 Danish on that side, thus making me actually 7/16 Icelandic, the fact that Icelanders are of about 25% Celtic ancestry (much of it Irish) makes me up to 10.9375% Irish, if I’ve calculated correctly. But since I’m Finnish on the other side, I celebrate St. Urho’s Day instead. ---
**Author:** ![akennett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@akennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akennett)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/7 "2003-03-01T23:47:39Z")
Well, I’ve heard of Ireland before, so that’s enough for me to toss back a couple of pints of Guinness (and a couple of Jameson’s just to round out the night). Of course, I don’t know if this really counts as an Irish celebration - the Guinness I can get here in the US is brewed and bottled in Canada! ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/8 "2003-03-01T23:54:31Z")
march 17 is mid-winter? ummm… oh, and if you believe Ian Paisley, St Patrick was protestant. yep, 100s of years before Luther, and he was a protestant. :rolleyes: Come over to Ireland and you’ll see that Sinn Fein is generally laughed at, mostly for their stated goal of a Marxist, Gaelic speaking united Ireland. (uh-huh, THATS what we need). personally, i shall be joining most of my friends for a quiet session in someone’s house. it will probably involve copious amounts of whisky and singing “The Fields of Athenry” at 3 am, because no-one can remember all the lyrics to the national anthem when they’re plastered. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/9 "2003-03-01T23:58:17Z")
Nope, not Irish. St. Patrick’s Day is the one day a year you can count on me not wearing green. That’s as far as my “protest” of the holiday goes. It’s just good fun in the worst part of the year. (Winter’s novelty has worn off and Spring hasn’t gotten its act together. There are worse things than shamrocks and green beer.) ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/10 "2003-03-02T00:03:37Z")
No, we [the Irish] will be Irish on Paddy’s Day, the rest of ye’s just want to get drunk and party LOL ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/11 "2003-03-02T00:16:16Z")
The best part of St Paddy’s day is toasting to the other drunks with ‘Pog mo thoin’ and getting drunk yourself. That’s what I did last time, except I couldn’t get too drunk as I was living at home and had a curfew (I had to be home for supper… ugh) This time, if I can get it off I am thinking of getting well and truly drunk. Or at least a nice buzz going. Irish (my roomie) and I will probably hit all the pubs down on Whyte and end up singing Great Big Sea and Captain Tractor along with Irish Lullaby as we wander up and down the street. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/12 "2003-03-02T00:23:23Z")
Yes, everyone is Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day. Also, everyone is gay on National Coming Out Day, just as a head’s up. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/13 "2003-03-02T04:46:07Z")
Well, I’m Irish enough to get together and drink Harp with my buddies. Does that count? (Actually, **Lobelia** has it about right.) I spent one St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin. That was an absolute blast. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/14 "2003-03-02T05:33:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Obsidian Flutterby \* > \*\*The best part of St Paddy’s day is toasting to the other drunks with ‘Pog mo thoin’ and getting drunk yourself. > > \*\* Shane MacGowan and I believe you mean “Pogue Mahone”. You want to get it right if you’re trying to pass for Irish. Although since St. Patrick wasn’t Irish I don’t see why anyone else should be. Maybe it should be “Everyone’s an Alcoholic on St. Patrick’s Day” 😛 (this smilie seems appropriate) Ace, what date is National Coming Out Day? I think I need to prepare. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/15 "2003-03-02T05:38:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by betenoir \* > \*\*Shane MacGowan and I believe you mean “Pogue Mahone”. You want to get it right if you’re trying to pass for Irish. > \*\* _posted in reply to **Obsidian Butterfly** _ Umm…OB got it right the first time:) Remember Kids, Gaelic sounds cool but its got some messed up spelling! Don’t try it at home;) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/16 "2003-03-02T07:29:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MikeG \* > \*\*_posted in reply to **Obsidian Butterfly** _ > > Umm…OB got it right the first time:) > Remember Kids, Gaelic sounds cool but its got some messed up spelling! Don’t try it at home;) \*\* Your telling me I can’t trust Shane MacGowen on this :eek:?But…he’s Irish AND alcoholic! ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/17 "2003-03-02T09:01:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by betenoir \* > \*\*Your telling me I can’t trust Shane MacGowen on this :eek:?But…he’s Irish AND alcoholic! \*\* And John Paul II is the pope AND Catholic! I kid, I kid! I’m 12.5% irish. On St. Paddy’s Day, I’m not Irish, but I’m drunk. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/18 "2003-03-02T13:37:26Z")
Shane McGowan is English, of Irish descent. Also, it’s “Sinn Féin” (don’t forget the fada). Not that they’ve got anything particularly to do with Paddy’s day. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/19 "2003-03-02T15:12:40Z")
National Coming Out Day is October 11th, which, coincidentally, is also my mother’s birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434/20 "2003-03-02T15:59:11Z")
I don’t feel particularly Irish on that or any other day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-everyones-irish-on-st-patricks-day/158434.md?page=2)