An Irish colleague remarked today that her fellow Irish citizens were much less focused on St. Patrick's Day than her expat friends. Another colleague informed that St. Patrick's Day is a reason to get together with friends and drink beer. Yet another, passing our Irish quiz and Guinness-chocolate cake celebration, observed that, "on St. Patrick's Day, we're all Irish." These observation have roots and reasons.
According to University of Notre Dame scholar Diarmuid Ó Giolláin, "“St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in Montreal in 1759 by Irish soldiers in the British Army who had just conquered Quebec. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York in 1766 was also by Irish soldiers in the British Army. And, on St. Patrick’s Day in 1768 in Montserrat (known as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean), slaves revolted against the largely Irish Catholic plantation owners – a good reason for their descendants to celebrate the festival today."
March 17 has been, since its inception, a day to celebrate ethnic pride and traditions for those far from the homeland they love, however many generations back they trace their lineage. It has been said mournfully that Ireland's most precious and plentiful export is its children. Like today's refugees and asylum seekers, Irish people have left the verdant, emerald shores of Ireland, shanghaied as conscripts, indicted as political "criminals" (hello, Australia!), fleeing hunger, seeking opportunity, and escaping violence and conflict.
The Irish have contributed and integrated into their communities - at least 22 of all U.S. presidents are of Irish ancestry - simultaneously celebrating their rich heritage and inviting others to do so.
Saint Patrick was not Irish. He was an immigrant and a slave. Today, celebrating St. Patrick's Day, join in toasting Irish heritage. And perhaps consider how our diversity and understanding of the world is enriched by coming together to celebrate and learn about one ethnicity while retaining and celebrating our own.
On 17 March, we are all Irish. Every day of our lives, we are part of a global community.
