Paddy and his clover
(SHORT TRAVEL ARTICLE)
WHO was Saint Patrick and why does he get to have a day of remembrance? Why all the fuss about the clover and what is the reason for it all? My husband, Graham, and I ferried to Dublin in Ireland for Saint Patrick’s Day on the 17th of March to find out more about the origin of this widely celebrated day.
Our hotel was located just outside Dublin, in Sutton Cross. True to its name, The Marine Hotel was on the beachfront with the Irish Sea walking distance across the lawn. I hadn’t seen the sea in five months and smelling the salty air was invigorating indeed.
The ‘lucky four-leaved clover’ had always been my association to Ireland, but all around Dublin were three-leaved clovers, or shamrocks as they’re known there. Irish legend says Saint Patrick (the minister who brought Christianity to Ireland) compared the Holy Trinity with a shamrock, pointing to the three leaflets joined by a common stalk.
The four-leaved clover as a lucky charm stems from the pagan period. They were used as Celtic charms against malevolent spirits, leading to the modern belief in their power to bestow good luck. Apparently there are 10,000 three-leaved clovers for every true four-leaved clover!
On St Patrick’s Day, Dublin City was transformed into a myriad of orange, white and green green green! Leprechaun paraphernalia, balloons, big foam hats and Guinness pints. The parade was delightful! Slowly the procession crossed the river Liffey (which runs through the middle of the city) and advanced past the 120 metre high spire. Fantasy floats, marching bands, flags, drum majorettes and giant-puppet-people on stilts were a joyful reflection of the typical happy nature of the Irish spirit.
Perhaps it was a deep Irish accent too lyrical for my ears to decipher or perhaps it was Gaelic, whatever the reason, not many people made sense to me when they spoke! And although the drizzly and chilly weather didn’t co-operate, the warm atmosphere and the locals’ dry humour neutralised any negative moods. All in all, even with confusing dialogues and damp weather, St Patrick’s Day in Dublin was, for me, jolly good fun.