Funny, I was just reading this story. The village is about 30 minutes up the valley from the village where I grew up.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/...-celebrated-12751064

Left/enslaved.. tomato/tomahto ;)

Well, he left by his own free will the second time round. Wonder what that says about Wales... :-)

I am of Irish extract in America (I have come to understand that even though all of my ancestors left the homeland when the fucking English tried to starve them that I am considered Not Irish in Eíre but an American. I had many discussions with one of my old lawyers about this who is from Ireland.) so consider this my official bitching.

Kilkenny or Bulmers since you don't have to wait for them.

This is part of the problem. Asshats have appropriated the holiday to get pass drunk instead of celebrating Ireland and our heritage.

I was attending a funeral near Penn's campus a couple of years ago and walked out into the middle of the Erin Express (or something similar) thing. Shitshow of drunken stupidity is a good description. Very drunk girl arguing with the cops, who were having none of it.

Although I did get a good laugh at the obviously Middle Eastern Penn students who had their green on for the day.

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"Honestly, triathlon is a pussified version of duathlon on that final run."- Desert Dude

Hell yea. Those were great times acting out the Irish. Dressing in green, drinking the green beer, and fornicating missionary-style.

Chillest St. Patrick's Day I've ever experienced was when I was in Ireland. There was some green tinsel over the bar and a 10% discount on beer, and that was it. Here in Boston it's a complete circus in some areas.

As my Irish friends would say, a Plastic Paddy :)

Isn't Cinco de Mayo also pretty much a non-thing in Mexico but another example of a drunkfest here in the states, and maybe elsewhere?

Yeah Boston turns into a shitshow. College city, lots of Irish heritage, many years mid-March will bring the first semi-nice weather (50+ degrees) in months and of course the March Madness alignment which is common everywhere. My college/post-college years were filled with some insane St. Paddy's benders, usually starting with the Thursday kickoff of the tournament and regaining consciousness Monday at some point. Once I hit my late 20's I lost all desire to be anywhere near that scene, but I can't pretend I wasn't a part of it for a stretch.

Probably only interesting to me but St. Paddy's day marked the one day a year where I realized I don't own green clothes of any sort. One year, I was probably 22 or 23, I bought a green hat on my way to a party, which I then wore for like four years in a row. I guess I don't like green, who knew?

My 'celebration' this year: wife and I are doing an Irish-themed cooking class. Mussels, shrimp and crab gratin, pork braised in cider with apples, minted peas, potato champ and porter stout cherry cake. Bringing some wine and Guinness to the class...should be fun!

Also Corned Beef is NOT traditional Irish fare

Yup. I work in Cambridge and leave the office early on St. Paddy's to get away from the Harvard/MIT/BU crazies who start stumbling somewhere around mid-afternoon. Stay way the hell away from Southie. I even went to the packie a couple days early just so I don't have to deal with the goof troops in there this evening.

Slàinte! :)

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

How about bangers and champ?

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"The right to party is a battle we have fought, but we'll surrender and go Amish... NOT!" -Wayne Campbell

This is probably my biggest bitch about St. Patrick's Day. Fucking beef lobby pushing that crap on us!

I had chicken and leek pie, good eatin.

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The secret of a long life is you try not to shorten it.
-Nobody

"Beware the Weekend Irish!"

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No fear. No envy. No meanness.

I've been hearing "Irish" people bitch abou this since the 80s.

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Civilize the mind, but make savage the body.

- Chinese proverb

'Xactly! Traditional Irish seven-course meal? Six-pack and a boiled potato!

Actually very interesting story and shows the melting pot of America.... the closest thing to traditional bacon was the corned beef they could get at kosher delis

I'm not Irish so why do people expect me to wear green today?

I don't

Top 5 Stripper names you're guaranteed to find on March 17th

Erin
Shannon
Kathleen
Bridget
Kelly

Extra points if she's wearing a ginger wig
Extra EXTRA points if she's wearing cross of some sort

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Funny story to me at least.

Was in Vegas for my birthday with a bunch of couples. Went to irish bar in NY NY and they opened the balcony for us. The band was really good and from Ireland. They were taking requests and I was the only person in the packed bar making them at 5 bucks a clip. I decided only a Republican (Irish version asshats) theme so I go up with my song slip and money in hand. The look on the guys face was priceless whether it was how the fuck does he know this song or oh shit we have to sing this song. By the 6th or 7th they were into as was the crowd. Probably no one else knew what was going on.

Because it's a god damn green holiday is why. Get in the fun, drunk Irish spirit, or do you hate fun?

Seriously, I own no green, and I've only seen one person in the office wearing green. Unless you're hanging with some college students today I think you'll be fine.