St. Patrick’s Day festivities have been held in Ireland for more than 1,000 years! Saint Patrick was not even Irish, and he actually wore blue, so why all the GREEN? Green is the color of the landscape of Ireland. Green is the color of the Shamrock. And why is the 4-sided clover so lucky? The 1st leaf is Faith, the 2nd is Hope, the 3rd is Love, which all Irish must have… but the 4th? That is LUCK! The Lucky Irish!

Celebrate this festive holiday in style with a trip to Ireland! Your first stop in Dublin is the Craft Beer & Food Market where Irish craft brew (the black stuff!), whiskey and local cuisine are enhanced by live music in a festive atmosphere. Ireland’s best microbrewers set up bars and give lessons in artisan beer tasting. After a beer and some local fare, smoked salmon with a gourmet cheese board, you’ll be ready to cruise the GREEN streets of Dublin. Over 50 historical buildings are illuminated with shamrock-green lights. As you wander through the green giants you’ll take a walk through Ireland’s past. Gaelic dancers and musicians provide a traditional soundtrack, but as the night goes on and youthful energy rises, they are replaced by Ireland’s hottest contemporary DJ’s. Go dancing!

Still craving some excitement amidst all the culture? Try some local sports. During the festival the Gaelic Athletic Association will be hosting the Hurling Championships in Dublin. If hurling is a bit too offbeat, head to stadium to watch the Shamrock Rovers play some football in front of fanatic Hooligans….

Ultimately, the St. Patrick’s Day experience Dublin Style has to end in one of Ireland famed brewpubs. You can go to the world famous Guinness factory, but we suggest trying something more unique. Ireland is home to an array of quality microbreweries, but our favorite is Porterhouse, Dublin’s storied brewery in the central vein of the Temple Bar neighborhood. It brews over a dozen beers and provides an energetic environment that won’t overwhelm. Feel good about your beer selection because their malted barley is brewed with renewable energy and the used grains & hops fed to some VERY LUCKY cows! Peter, their famed brewer, personally offers tastings of the local, fresh and unpasteurized small-batch brews. Let’s go!