St. Patrick's Day in Ireland (I know a little late..)

 Well, lets just say it is quite the experience to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Ireland. It is one of those things you say you will only do once in  your life, like going to New York for New Years. 


The day before March 17th, we spent the evening as if we live in a monastery. We had shorten hours, but we worked, prayed, and ate for the evening. It was nice to do and have some reflecting time on what St. Patrick's Day really is about.  Did you know.... 
St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the 4th century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father and grandfather were deacons in the Church. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken captive to Ireland as a slave. According to his Confession, he was told by God in a dream to flee from captivity to the coast, where he would board a ship and return to Britain. Upon returning, he quickly joined the Church in Auxerre in Gaul and studied to be a priest. In 432,  he was called back to Ireland, though as a bishop, to Christianize the Irish from their native polytheism. Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish people. After nearly thirty years of evangelism, he died on March 17th 461, and was buried at Downpatrick. Patrick endured as the principal champion of Irish Christianity and is held in esteem in the Irish Church. This is really why we celebrate. 

But for most of the people in Ireland, it's a day to wear green and get drunk. We went to Dublin for the day. We saw the parade, which was kinda creepy if you didn't know the story (I didn't know the story and was very confused). But we were on a roof top so that just made it all better! After the parade we went to see some Gaelic games. It was crazy in Dublin, packed with people and the smell of alcohol. We went to a pub for dinner and heard some live music. But by the end of the night, things were getting out of control and it was time to leave. 

This week has been crazy with Irish Literature and I'm glad it is almost over! I only have 6 more weeks here, which is crazy to think about. Time just flies by, but once it hits time to go home I know for sure I will be ready!