Pioneers For Patrick

RTÉ radio presenter  John Creedon is hoping to pave the way along a straight line by calling on listeners to join him in abstaining from alcohol on St Patrick's Day.

He tweeted 'If you are dreading our national holiday, fight back. Join me in an alcohol-free St.Patrick’s Day.'

Outlining his perspective he said:

Up to recent years people were introduced to pub culture in a subtle way — you were served draft beer in a pub setting, that you could get away with a couple of pints in an adult environment and under the beady eye of the bar owner. In the last 20 years in particular, the introduction to alcohol has been totally different.

17 March 1961 St Patrick's Day celebration in a Dublin pub.

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Parading and Partying For Patrick

St Patrick's Day is always guaranteed to pull crowds onto the streets of Dublin City Centre.

1976 St Patrick's Day in O'Connell Street, Dublin

Sunday was no exception despite the inclement weather.  With former Westlife member Nicky Byrne,  to the fore as grand marshall the Dublin parade drew large crowds. Predisnt Michael D Higgins was in attendance while the Taoiseach Enda Kenny was on the streets of New York for the traditional yearly parade there.

The main parade begans at noon, following a route through the city from Parnell Square to O’Connell Street, Westmoreland Street and Dame Street before heading towards Christchurch and finishing at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

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