St Patrick's Day through the years

It is fast approaching that time of year again for the global onslaught of revelers putting an oversized leprechaun hat on their head, drinking far more alcohol than they can handle and shouting “Top of the morning to ye” at each other in their best ‘Oirish’ accent.  

Despite the stereotypes, most of the brashness now associated with St Patrick’s Day actually originated in the US – leprechauns, the bright green clothes, the dyed beer. Even the dinner of corned beef and cabbage is an American invention.

In 2006, the Irish government decided to tap into this enthusiasm for celebrating our national saint by creating St Patrick’s Festival; a week of events, gigs, tours, and street performances, crowned off with the parade through Dublin city centre.

Mass, bacon and rain

However, just 20 years ago, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day used to be a much more sombre affair in Ireland. The focus was on the religious aspect of the day, as families dressed up to go to morning mass, with a sprig of shamrock pinned to their coats. Blessing the shamrock was also part of the Dublin parade.

St Patrick's Day Industrial parade in O'Connell St, Dublin, 1955

After mass, people went home to get the dinner of bacon or roast chicken and potatoes ready. The men might slope off to the pub for a leisurely pint of Guinness with the other males of the neighbourhood. Since the ‘80s, TVs in the living-rooms of rural Ireland were always tuned in to the Dublin parade. From this vantage point, the tanned and sequinned dancing groups from the US seemed like creatures of a superior species, their enthusiasm and permasmiles almost unnerving.

Parades were held in all the large towns, but they were a community effort and focused on regional industries. Tractors were a common sight, pulling trailors carrying floats sponsored by local businesses and clubs. The girls from the Irish dancing clubs were always out in force, but without the layers of fake tan and makeup they come with these days. People cheered to see their neighbours and relations in the parade. They did not need glamorous costumes, pounding music or fancy fireworks to make standing in the rain worthwhile.

McKintosh float in the 1955 parade

One tradition that has continued is the holding of the Gaelic Athletic Association club final in both hurling and football on St Patrick's Day. Croke Park has become the regular venue for this event, and it is a big draw for many people in Dublin for the festivities who wouldn't normally attend a GAA match.

The Irish Photo Archive has a collection of images of St Patrick’s Day from the 1950s through to the 1980s. They portray an Ireland that was pushed aside by the Celtic Tiger, but which has been remembered in the past few years with a lot more fondness. Which version of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are best will always be a subjective opinion, but why not use our galleries to look back on the day through the decades.

Just like a rolling stone

At first the thought occurred that most Dubliners might have viewed the Rolling Stones as a fossil best left to archeologists, and the result of their excavations to be put on display in a museum rather than an art gallery.

Andy Farron, Sean Walsh and Susan Kennedy at the Zozimus exhibition

The few who gathered early at Gallery Zozimus, 56 Francis Street, Dublin seemed just as interested in the magnificent array of art works stored there as they did in the evening's feature exhibition, the Rolling Stones Centenary Exhibition 'Charlie is my Darling’. By the night's end the spartan crowd was a heaving mass, their numbers more suited to a rock concert than an art exhibition. And none were complaining that they could get no satisfaction.

The group, even with photos taken as far back as 1965, was still a crowd puller. The editor of Hotpress Magazine, Niall Stoked opened the exhibition, revealing his admiration for the Stones while admitting that he had been a Beatles fan. He outlined how the Stones brought the music of black Harlem to white Dublin at a time when the cultural melting pot was not as cosmopolitan as it is in today's multicultural climes. Susan Kennedy the current director of Lensmen which created the images five decades ago took the floor after Niall and warmly thanked all who had made the event possible. She singled out the original Lensmen pioneer Andy Farron whose attendance prompted a warm round of applause.

Susan Kennedy and Sean Walsh with an image from the Zozimus  exhibition

This specialized Lensmen Collection will remain on display continue at the Zozimus until Saturday 23rd March next. If you were not there last night, there is still time. Don't be left a fool to cry. Make an evening of it and spend a night together in the illustrious company of one of the world's renowned rock groups. 

purchase prints @ Irish Photo Archive

The Sign of the Cross.

Last week the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in favor of a British Airways employee who took a case to Strasbourg claiming that she was the victim of discrimination on the grounds of her religious faith.

Nadia Eweida alleged that BA compelled her to desist from wearing a small white gold cross if it could be viewed by members of the public. The court upheld that under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights Ms Eweida's rights had been breached.

Three other Christians who made similar claims had their cases rejected by the court.

The judgement will have consequences for the 'cultural war' that is ongoing between secular and religious perspectives. While Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern spoke out against what he claimed was an 'aggressive secularism'. Two years ago Dublin hosted the World Atheist Convention which signified for many the decline of religious influence in Ireland.

Religious bodies such as the Iona Institute continue to campaign in defense of Christian values.

Archbishop John Charles McQuaid meeting Taoiseach Sean Lemass in the 1960s.

Purchase Prints @ Irish Photo Archive