Conversation:

The Paddies day festivals in Ireland have all been cancelled because of the worries about foot and mouth disease.

The pubs will still be open, people will wear green and drink to excess but it just won't be official.

I shall be in Holland, just out off oddness...but I'm hoping the younger Jones boy will cover this side of the water.

Yeah, its a real shame.

Imagine, Ireland will be the only place on the planet where there will be no St Patricks Day Celebrations this year. And it get's even better when we are told that the St. Paddy's celebrations will happen later in the year instead. And, we don't even have Foot and Mouth Disease!

(Actually I think it would be great to have an August or September St. Paddy's day celebration - it's a bit wacky, and the weather is likely to be a lot better).

CR

Yeah, its a real shame.

Imagine, Ireland will be the only place on the planet where there will be no St Patricks Day Celebrations this year. And it get's even better when we are told that the St. Paddy's celebrations will happen later in the year instead. And, we don't even have Foot and Mouth Disease!

(Actually I think it would be great to have an August or September St. Paddy's day celebration - it's a bit wacky, and the weather is likely to be a lot better).

CR

Ooops? I just posted that twice - and I haven't even had my first pint yet!

What does Guiness and Disinfectant taste like anyway?

CR

Well, every cloud has a silver lining - and in this case the fact that Breo is no more is it.

We went to a little town near Arnehm instead - still drank Guinness and watched U2 cover bands, so what difference?

to tell you the truth - I was kind of pleased!! I'm not a fan of Paddy's day - always seems to end up a bit of a let down.

violagirl

I think that's largely true.
At least, the second Paddies day in the same place is usually a let down.
Perhaps there should be a poll - where's best for paddies day? I'd imagine Sydney and Boston might be good.

For a great Paddy's weekend you need : a pub, a holiday home somewhere "out wesht", a couple of friends (the more the merrier), a stiff atlantic wind to wake you up, musical instruments (and ideally someone who can play them properly), and someone who knows how to cook a big breakfast the morning afterwards.

My candidates are Doolin, Fanore, Connemara, Dingle or West Cork. I also hear that Donegal is a great place to go.

CR

I suppose so - although if Donegal is anything like Sligo it really only worth going in the summer i.e. between 11.30 and 11.45am on July the 4th.

Too right!! Unless you have a wet suit and plenty of bottled air, of course...

I've heard that a town called Goettingen near Hannover in Germany is one of the best places to spend Paddy's Day (more specifically the Irish pub there!). Although, come to think of it, I think they were only telling me that cause I decided leave there to go back to Ireland on Paddy's Day last year

Personally, the only requirements for a decent Paddy's Day (apart for not expecting it to be any good, and then being happy when it's just OK) is drink, drink and friends with drink.

violagirl

I think this years paddys day should be mentioned as irlands most memorable, what with there being no parade, or indeed any celebration,, though there was some guy walking down grafton street with a pram decked out in green white and yellow, saying he was the emergency backup parade or sometin...
and personally Id love a summer parade, it'll be great to be able to enjoy it without freezing to death.

- The Ravenmaster

May 19th! That's when we get our Paddy's festival this year. The fireworks show that was planned is going to be held that night. Of course that's wonderful for all those people who can afford the time!! I was just about ready for a few decent nights out in the middle of March, but now they have the festival right in the middle of my finals