Live Blog from St Patrick’s Day in Dublin
I’m blogging live from the big bus leading Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day parade, and providing minute-by-minute updates of all the madness from the very heart of it!
The other guys on the bus, by the way, are media people from across the globe, and they seem to be loving it! They’re all on the top deck waving and shouting hello to everyone. Doubt any of them will have voices left after this is all done.
The lovely Liffey on Saint Patrick's Morning
13.13: Just off the bus and the Dublin Fire Brigade is being led by a massive Irish Wolfhound! A load of kilted men are banging drums and weaving their way up towards me.
13:17: The Garda (Ireland’s police) are showing off their horses. They’re nearly as tall as this bus – and I’m on the top deck!
13:19 Big hello to Luis Alfonso from Gran Canaria (probably as warm in Dublin as it is there today!) and a Slainte to Mary in Scotland and Marlyn, too! (If I spell names wrong please put it down to the excitement!)
David and Michaela, USA - Don't be jealous!
13:22 Huge hello to Jeannine, Waggi , Lola and Pam! Hey guys! Some serious dance moves going on right beside me. The Tallaght youth band waving some crazy flag – what would a parade be without a flag, eh?
13:24 Touch of the Arabian Nights here and a man climbing a pole that must be about 15 feet in the air, crikey
13:40: Just been passed by giant eh…eh..think it was a bug of some sort but he looked like a friendly chap! I’m on a double decker bus so you can imagine that if these guys are taller than the bus than their really packing some height!
The man of the hour!
13:45 Duerrow High School tooting trambones and trumpets to erm, beat the band (sorry!) Love the big band sound! Weather holding up as is my shamrock – hasn’t withered at all!
13:46 A group of Blues playing deer have just rocked up beside me – I think I recognise one from the Phoenix Park actually…Followed by a massive wellington boot driven by Wellington himself on what looks like a drive-on lawnmower. Touch of gardening class there!
Margaretta and Natascha Germany having their breakfast interrupted by me
13:47 Time for a spot of full on baton twirling by a group of flame costumed revelers. Lady Gaga might be giving them a call for her next concert… Huge green shout-out to Joyce, Cyndi, Kelli and Jane! Guys your missing it and missed – there’s space for all of you here. Maybe next year? Maryrose, the last thing anyone wants to see is me dressed as anything!
13:49 Zebras and Giraffes getting their Serengetti groove on beside me now closely followed by a massive polar bear (not the real thing in by the way but scared me nonetheless!)
13:50 Wow! A lot of pink plumage there! Maybe I should have brought my featherboa! On second thoughts, maybe not.
Pretty in Pink on St Patrick's Day
13:52 Regarding Joyce’s invite to Savannah, careful Joyce- you might have a ring of the doorbell and a man from Ireland looking to be shown around!
13:55 Coming into a little lull here…I’d say things were quiet if it wasn’t for all of the cheering, singing, etc…
13:54 Very special hello to Mary Anne whose great granny came from Donard in Wicklow. Hope Detroit went green for you today, Mary Anne!
13:56 Well, I can’t use the phrase ‘when pigs will fly’ anymore. Big pink, flying oink sailing past my bus window. He’s sniffing kids in the crowd. Cheeky…
13:58 Carol great to hear that you’re here in spirit! We’ll raise a glass to everyone who isn’t here (already had an Irish Coffee, if I’m honest, in all of your honour!)
13:59 North Carolina’s Cougars are getting their banner on and looking rather spiffing in all their regalia. They’re also bringing the ‘big band’ noise which is responsible for the hairs on the back of my neck standing to attention…
14:00 Some ravens playing suit cases (as you do…) passing my left flank along with a three-headed dog manned by a rapper. Very cool actually, kind of thing you dream about when you eat cheese before bed…
Pink was a bit of a theme at today's parade...
14:03 Ladies with flowers in their hair. Well, giant flowers sticking out of their head really. Never mind, they look good.
14:05 Dancing/swimming amphibious creatures now followed my a MASSIVE pink two headed dog (Lady Gaga really would love this). Michael Jackson’s Thriller is being brought out now by a group of furry green chaps. Just like I do in front of the bathroom mirror, maybe a little better.
14:07 Charlotte, Irish eyes certainly are smiling. Dancing, singing, cheering. Anything you care to mention, really!
14:08 Bit of Eastern Magic now from the Phillipines (totally spelled that incorrectly but I’m typing like my life depends on it so apologies!).
14:09 The air is ringing with bicycle bells. I remember that sound when I was learning to ride a bike. I was frantically ringing my bell before I met the bush…
And that’s it! All over, what a day. Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone and thank you all so much for the comments. I’m off to sink a pint of porter and give my little fingers a break. Slan!
Hello David,
My grandmother, Mary Margaret Mitchell was from Wicklow. Donard.
Looking forward to reading your blog on St. Patrick’s although I will be out celebrating myself here in Detroit, MI. Will start with Mass at Holy Trinity in Detroit.
Mary Anne
Hello Mary Anne!
Brilliant stuff. My first 21 years were spent living in a town called Manor Kilbride in Wicklow, about half an hour from Donard. Our relations may well have shared a pint, or even some shamrock!
I hope you have a great day in Detroit and I’ll make sure to give you a mention in my live blog tomorrow.
Cheers,
David.
[...] DiscoverIreland.com will be sending one of their intrepid reporters to live blog from the 2011 Dublin St. Patrick’s Day parade! [...]
let’s see a picture of you dressed as a book!!
Hello Ya’ll!
One time ya’ll come to Savannah Georgia & Celebrate!!
A very Happy & Blessed St. Patrick’s day to ya’ll now!!
Joyce in Georgia
Although I’m thousands of miles away in Detroit, my heart is there with all the revelry. wish i could see it in person and explore some of my heritage….i will be stuck in a classroom taking my finals in Holistic medicine. May you have green grass below you and the sun above your head for the duration of the parade…
Cyndi Mitchell
Detroit, MI
And to ya’ll, too!
I live in the US. My mother is from Dublin. I would love to be in Ireland for Saint Paddys day. ”Erin go Braugh”………
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Florida! Wish I were there
A Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you, David, & to everyone, from across the ocean. I wishI could be in Ireland!!
Happy St. Patrick;s day everybody from Glasgow hope you all enjoy yourself
I LOVE this day! It’s my favorite one. You know why? Because 21 years ago today I married my best friend Patrick. I could not be luckier!!! Have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day to everyone.
Erin go bragh!
Lola
Top ‘o the mornin’ David and Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Topeka, Kansas! Love Ireland and hope to get back there again soon!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!! There aren’t any Irish pubs near me, so I’ll be attempting my first shepherd’s pie in celebration! I’ve never been there, but my heart has always been in Ireland
HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY….From a third generation emigrate……Don’t want to break the party but tomorrow you might want to look at what plans the Irish Greyhound board and Chinese business men have…
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Coatbridge, Scotland, or ‘Little Ireland’ as it called. We have our Festival here for the 17th March which lasts for a week. Have fun
Happy St. PAtrick´s Day from Gran Canaria. My heart is now in Dublin. I´ve lived St. Patrick´s Day in Dublin and specially remeber 1988 because of the Milennium. How I wish were up there now!
Slainte!
My heart is now in Dublin. I´ve lived St. Patrick´s Day in Dublin and specially remeber 1988 because of the Milennium. How I wish were up there now!
Happy St. PAtrick´s Day from Gran Canaria.
Slainte!
The “Luck O’ The Irish” to ya lads and lassies! Wondering where the pictures of the parade are, and will there be a live video?
Today, my spirit is celebrating… the spirit of the Irish and all those who would be! I remember tripping down Dame Street a time or two when I visited in 2006!
Irish Eye’s are smiling;P
David-
Greetings from Chicago!! I have enjoyed your delightful commentary from Dublin!!! I hope that you have a super great St. Patrick’s day!!! After you visit Joyce in Georgia, you can come visit us in Chicago
Have a pint for me!!!
God Bless,
Janel
Hi David! Thanks for letting us see the St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin Ireland thru your Blog! I am so EXCITED that I am bringing a group to tour Ireland in March 2012…we will start and finish in Dublin!
I am from liittle Rhode Island…we are very green here too…went to the parade in Newport, RI and tonite it is off to a celbration at Ri Ra in Providence, RI! May the road rise up to meet you and the wind always be at your back! Happy St Patrick’s Day to all in Ireland and all over the world! ENJOY your pint David!
Hey there Deb! You really are very welcome- I hope it gave you some idea of the atmosphere here. I’ll do a little research on your dancing query and reply soon. Have a cracking night over in RI and thanks so much for tuning in!
I wish you all a Happy St. Patricks Day from a small town in Indiana.I hope some day to visit Dublin. I have seen some really pretty pictures.
Great blog David! Love this website! Last in Ireland in ’07, but hope to convince my family how wonderful it would be to go back. I’d love to see the west and also Northern Ireland.
We live in Washington, DC and enjoy all things Irish. Enjoy your day. Slainte!
Here’s wishing everybody have a safe and Happy St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Thanks Aileen for the great write-up.
Hello everyone,
Just a mention to anyone who I didn’t get around to saying hello to yesterday – I’m really sorry! I was tapping away like mad with pigs, acrobats and giant three headed dogs zipping past my head so I’ll put it down to that. I’d like to say thanks so much for reading yesterday and I really hope you all had a happy St Patrick’s Day!
I LOVE my day!!!! hope everyone had a great one!!! I’m just waiting for my chance to visit the Emerald Isle!!
I’m irish. Is St Patricks day over yet?
I’m Irish St. Patrick Day is my favorite Holiday.
I’m Colleen and thoroughly enjoy Ireland all year long. Was doing a tour of the entire coastlines of Ireland 4 years ago and talk about discovering Ireland. Wow, what a fantastic trip it was. The castles, the people, the food, the guiness, the green, the shopping, the pubs, the music, the craic, the spirit of Ireland all were amazing. This wee colleen will be back for more.