Mora daoibh go léir! Greetings to you all!

Earlier today in Dublin there was a large parade to celebrate, and you can see the recorded video here:

Besides the celebrations today, there will be celebrations all throughout the weekend in Dublin. Check out some of the scheduled events here.

The festival organizers talk about this year and how significant it is after the two-year hiatus:

“St. Patrick’s Festival invites Ireland and the world to reconnect in Dublin in a global celebration of Irish Arts, Culture and Heritage.

Festival 2022 will be a landmark celebration, the largest in scale and ambition to date, a moment for the nation, and for our tribe of 80 million across the world, to connect and reflect, celebrate and welcome.”

The theme of this year’s festival is Connections/Naisc and the idea is about connecting not only the nation of Ireland, but millions all over the world.

Speaking of connections and what it means to be Irish, check out this quote by Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh in the Irish Times talking about the Irish language, heritage, and a sense of place:

“Bhí an t-ádh orm gur tógadh le Gaeilge mé. Is cuid dár n-oidhreacht í an teanga Ghaeilge. Ach níl aon ghá bheith líofa le tuiscint áirithe a bheith againn ar ár n-oidhreacht. Cé go bhfuil an Ghaeilge lárnach i m’oidhreacht féin, ní mar a chéile ár dtuiscint ar oidhreacht. In éindí le grá tá oidhreacht an-láidir agus an-phearsanta: músclaíonn sí mothúcháin atá in ann compord agus briseadh croí a chothú ionainn.
Tá oidhreacht na hÉireann chuile áit, sna caisleáin, sna carraigeacha, sna haibhneacha sna sléibhte, sna farraigí, sna scéalta agus inár n-anamacha, is cuid dá n-oidhreacht iad ar fad. Ach mar aon leis an nGaeilge tá bagairt ar ár n-oidhreacht. Gan meas ná aitheantas ní bheidh sí ann: caithfear aire a thabhairt dár n-oidhreacht.”

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Here’s some vocabulary for the festivities:

Naomh Pádraig (lit : Saint Patrick)

Pádraig Naofa (lit : Holy Patrick)

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit – Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh – Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig dhuit – St Patrick’s Day blessings to you

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh – St. Patrick’s Day blessings to you all

“Wetting the shamrock” is an old Irish saying meaning “to go for a drink,” particularly on St. Patrick’s Day, so if you plan on meeting someone to celebrate you can say this:

Cá mbeidh tú ag fliúchadh na seamróige? –Where will you be wetting the shamrock?”

Sláinte! – Cheers!

Éirinn go Brách – Ireland forever (Erin go Bragh is the  anglicization)

Seamróg – shamrock

Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat – May luck rise to you (good luck)

Ádh na n-Éireannach – Luck of the Irish

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And here is some reading practice in Irish about St. Patrick’s Day.

Let me know how you will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day down below ⬇

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh!