Okay, first of all, it's Paddy's Day, not Patty's Day, get it right.
Having spent Paddy's Day in Galway 2 years ago, I had some idea of what Paddy's Day in Dublin would be like. For one, in America, it may seem a bit tacky to get decked out all in green, but in Dublin, it's totally acceptable! The more the better when it comes to green, honestly paint yourself green if you want. For many, it's a dream to spend Paddy's Day in Ireland. Especially since the release of Ed Sheeran's new song Galway Girl, even more people have developed a love for Ireland. From parades to Guinness and fights, my Paddy's Day was truly Irish.
This Saint Paddy's has been a weekend full of celebration, especially in Dublin. Dublin has a phenomenal parade throughout the city held every year with outrageous floats and bands. Although I didn't get to see much, or really any, of the parade, I did get to see the set-up, clean-up, and pictures/videos of friends who went. Go ahead and judge me for missing the parade, but seeing as how it was raining and kind of miserable out, I did not want to be stuck outside trying to watch the parade. Still, the great thing about an Irish Paddy's Day is that it's not just all about the parade.
There are some great opportunities for people-watching. This may sound very boring to some, but trust me with all of the tourists half-drunk and half-lost, it's quite entertaining. I even had the pleasure of seeing a fight in broad daylight, in the middle of the street. Just walking around after the parade, there was plenty of entertainment throughout the city, especially in the pubs.
If you're in Ireland, especially Dublin, for Paddy's Day, go to the pubs. If you're like me and don't particularly like large crowds, maybe steer clear of the Temple Bar area, but trust me it's a great experience any day you go. The pubs were packed no matter where I went but since I live just 30 minutes outside of Dublin's City Center, it was easy to find some not so crowded places to go.
I am not a big drinker by any means so food was more the focus of my attention. After finding a spectacular place, the EATYARD, a sort of food market attached to a pub, my friends and I spent the night eating and talking with some fairly-drunk Irish guys. Being able to sit outside instead of being inside the pub, but still having that same feeling as a pub was an amazing experience.
Since Paddy's Day landed on a Friday this year, the entire weekend was full of different celebrations. Along with the parade, there were a number of craft/food fairs, carnivals, flea markets, and live music throughout Dublin. If you ever visit Dublin, definitely check out a fair or market because of the unique gifts you can get for loved ones and yourself.
The great thing about Paddy's Day is you can make it yours. Celebrate in any way you want. If you don't drink that's cool. If you do drink, that's cool too. If you want to hop from pub to pub or stay at one pub the entire day and night, no one is going to judge you. Even though I didn't celebrate as many people my age may have, I had a perfect Saint Paddy's Weekend in Dublin.
