Hat courtesy of Peep Kim
Sadly, it looks like Ireland’s elite have fallen victim to political correctness. Now, I’m all for moderation, but it’s St. Patrick’s Day for crying out loud!
Ireland’s leaders call for alcohol restraint during St. Patrick’s Day
Ireland’s leaders urged the nation on Monday to honor its “most famous immigrant” — and avoid drinking too much alcohol — as an estimated half a million revelers lined the sunny streets of Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day.
Dubliners and tourists gathered five-deep on the sidewalks of central Dublin for the parade, the centerpiece of Ireland’s five-day St. Patrick’s Festival. Police vowed to launch their biggest-ever crackdown on rowdiness and drunken driving, which typically follow the day’s parading in Dublin and a half-dozen smaller Irish cities.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who was in Washington to meet U.S. President George W. Bush later Monday to present him with a ceremonial bowl of shamrocks, called on people back home to drink in moderation “and not to get behind the wheel after doing it.”
“There’s no reason (why) people can’t enjoy themselves and be part of the celebrations without going over the top,” he said…Ireland’s national police force, the Garda Siochana, said it would mount breath-testing checkpoints nationwide for the first time on St. Patrick’s Day, while an 800-strong reserve force of officers would be on standby in Dublin in case of any serious street disturbances.
Foot patrols were ordered to confiscate alcoholic drinks from anybody drinking on sidewalks or the streets.
Bah!
In other news, USA Today has a roundup of all the St. Patrick news. And Canada answers: Saint Patrick: who was he?
Hey, Tammy, that hat adds something…not bad! You just need a slight “wink” go to with it…top ‘o the mornin’ to ye!
This is just so wrong. My ancestors are turning in their graves both here and back on the old sod!
As one of the part-Irish peeps who doesn’t like corned beef and cabbage, the only thing that helps get it down is alcohol. That, and Irish soda bread. Mmm…
Nice hat, by the way. 😉
I must admit that I as a New Yorker for a long time hated St. Patrick’s Day (I was always thrilled when it rained that day). The reason was because of the legions of drunken louts that used to come into Manhattan early in the morning and get drunk for the entire day and would act obnoxious and vomit all over the city. Thankfully the authorities cracked down on that type of behavior many years ago.
A very Happy St. Patrick’s Day to a fellow Irish lass.
It is sad that it has turned into a “drunk Paddy” type of event. Drink yes but don’t wreck a city for the love of St. Patrick. This is Joseph Henry O’Neil III wishing everyone a joyous holiday. Erin Go Bragh!!!!!!
Drink to excess (I’m just back from Maguire’s and commenting between pints), but just don’t get behind the wheel. DUI is a holiday tradition we can all do without.
Just don’t try a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake,if anyone offers it!
I’d like to shout out to my good friend Tommy Smyth, who was the grand marshall of the St Paddy’s Day parade in NYC yesterday.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03142008/entertainment/grand_marshal_tommy_m__smyth_101832.htm
Tommy is a great Irishman and an even better human being!
saint patrick is a metaphor for the destruction of pagan ireland and the subjugation of her real identity and her real history and of her people which continues to this day. the snakes are the goddess worshippers he supposedly ‘ drove’ out.
of course we pagans invented rolling around drunk in the streets, had women in positions of great power, did not forbid homosexuality and did i mention invented rolling around drunk and spewing poetry about it in the form of the epic tale?
Ummm…nice photo.