St Patrick may have been the patron saint of Ireland, but St Patrick’s Day is a truly global celebration.
It’s no surprise considering the Irish are such a well-travelled bunch, with more than 32 million people in the US alone claiming Irish ancestry.
If you want to rejoice in your Irish heritage, the good news is that you don’t have to make it to the Motherland for 17 March to celebrate – there are plenty of amazing Paddy’s Day parties outside of Ireland, and here are just a few…
Chicago, US
From raucous pub crawls to lively parades, there is nothing quite like St Patrick’s Day in Chicago. Head to the intersection of Michigan Ave, Wacker Drive, and the Chicago River to see the green river flow in all its glory.
Padua, Italy
If you like to wash down your pasta with Guinness, then this is one of Europe’s best St Patrick’s Day festivals. Every year over 25,000 people descend on the historic university town of Padua to party at ‘Festa Irlandese.’ Best of all, it’s free.
Boston
Massachusetts prides itself on being the most Irish state in the union, so it’s no surprise its capital city goes all out for St Patrick’s Day. This year the parade takes place on Sunday March 15, there’ll be an Irish film festival and Boston’s own Dropkick Murphys will do a string of hometown gigs.
Birmingham, UK
Birmingham was one of the first cities in the UK to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and has the third largest parade in the world, behind New York and Dublin. It attracts around 90,000 people a year and though it’s Irish at its core, the city’s festivities are also a vibrant celebration of multiculturalism.
Dublin, Ireland
It’s the capital of Ireland, so there’s no way this city wasn’t going to make the list. From a treasure hunt to concerts with traditional music and dance, Dublin’s four-day festival attracts half a million people each year, and the parade has to be the highlight.
Vilnius, Lithuania
In addition to lots of food, music and raucous fun, the people of Vilnius celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by turning the Vilnele River green.
London, UK
London has a huge Irish community, which is why the city goes all out for Paddy’s Day. See the spectacular St Patrick’s Day parade, catch free performances in Trafalgar Square and enjoy Irish food and Guinness at pubs around the city.
Montserrat, West Indies
The Irish were some of Montserrat’s earliest settlers and on St Patrick’s Day in 1768, the African slaves on the island planned a thwarted uprising. Now a public holiday, St Patrick’s has become a ten-day festival to honour that rebellion and celebrate the island’s history.
New York City, US
Older than the United States itself, the New York City St Patrick’s Day parade has been running since 1762 and it’s the biggest Paddy’s Day parade in the world. Around two million revellers show up to watch Irish dancers, bands of bagpipers, and an estimated 100,000 marchers.