St. Patrick's Day: Why is it so popular among university students?
April 16, 2024
St. Patrick's Day, a day filled with jubilation and celebration of all things Irish, holds a special place in the hearts of university students around the world. As a student experiencing my first year at university, I had no idea just how big of a deal this day would be. However, the embrace of the entire university community towards the festivities ignited my Gaelic blood with excitement.
My friends and I eagerly embraced the spirit of the day by joining the Irish bar crawl, a natural inclination for the group given my status among my pals as the resident Irish flatmate. Yet as we wandered the campus of Warwick, it was impossible to ignore the sea of green stripes painted across cheeks and the abundance of shamrock sunglasses adorning heads. But was everyone there solely for the revelry and true spirit of Irishness? Perhaps not entirely. While university students are known for exploiting any reason for a night out drinking, the genuine love for Irish culture on St. Patrick's Day was unmistakable.
The enthusiasm for St. Patrick's Day extended far beyond the confines of my university. A quick scroll through social media revealed floods of pictures from friends and acquaintances at universities across the country, all partaking in the celebrations. In the hierarchy of university big nights out and celebrations, St. Patrick's Day held a revered place, ranking just below Halloween and just above Eurovision (at least at Warwick). This is no small feat, considering Halloween at university is often labelled 'Halloweekend' even when it falls on a Wednesday. The sheer number of people I encountered out and about on that Sunday was truly astounding, the kind of scenes I hadn't witnessed since being home in Cahersiveen for St. Paddy’s many years ago.
Weeks before the sacred day, I was repeatedly asked about my plans by multiple people. My response took the form of uncertainty. When back home in London as a child I would venture into the city with my dad for the parade which typically consisted of him running into the entirety of the South West of Ireland and me tiring of being told how much I’ve
grown, so in more recent years, the day saw minimal observance from me. However, the anticipation leading up to the day was palpable. Everyone I spoke to couldn't wait to partake in their chosen commemorations, whether it was through flat parties, pub evenings, or bar crawls; draped in green, white, and orange.
When I inquired about the reasons behind this widespread enthusiasm, the most common response was a simple declaration of love for all things Irish. And indeed, the night unfolded in a manner befitting that sentiment. Baby Guinness shots flowed freely, and I frequently showcased my (perhaps overly enthusiastic) Irish dancing skills to an appreciative audience. There were impromptu renditions of Molly Malone, with everyone joining in, regardless of their Irish roots. The ever-so-slightly refined English flatmates I brought along, most of whom hail from home county villages, proclaimed it one of the best nights of their lives, with traditions I hope I will have instilled in them for years to come. In reflecting on the festivities, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride in my Irish heritage.
St. Patrick's Day had brought together people from all walks of life to celebrate a culture rich in history, tradition, and warmth. As I danced and laughed alongside friends, old and new, I felt a profound connection to my roots and a renewed appreciation for the joyous spirit. St. Patrick's Day transcends mere celebration; it is a testament to the enduring allure of Irish culture and the power of shared festivities to unite people in joy and camaraderie. For university students, it represents a cherished opportunity to immerse themselves in a day of revelry, laughter, and cultural appreciation—a tradition that will undoubtedly endure for years to come.
Article by Kate O'Mahony
There are over 13,000 survivors of Ireland’s mother & baby homes living in Britain. “Philomena’s Law” seeks to remove a barrier to many survivors seeking the redress that they are entitled to by protecting redress scheme payments from being calculated within means-tested benefits & social care arrangements. Our Midlands Irish Survivors Service supports former residents of institutional abuse in Ireland. As part of this work, we are involved with Philomena’s Law, which will hopefully be passed in the coming months. Many of you may be familiar with Philomena Lee, who this law is named after. The story of Philomena’s search for her son Anthony (who she gave birth to in a Mother and Baby Home in County Tipperary) was the basis of the Oscar-nominated film Philomena, which stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. Labour MP Liam Conlon has introduced this draft legislation in the House of Commons in an effort to get a fairer deal for Survivors of institutions. The current redress scheme for Survivors enables former residents to receive financial compensation from the Irish government for the time they spent in Mother and Baby Homes. As it stands, any Survivor who is receiving means-tested benefits when they receive a compensation payment from the scheme is in danger of losing these benefits. This has a huge impact on Survivors who are yet again being denied the justice and kindness they deserve. If this legislation is passed, it will stop these benefits from being affected, and some cases, ceased altogether. Getting this law passed would change the lives of so many. As a charity, we are aware of many Survivors who have prolonged accepting the redress payment, or who have simply felt unable to accept it at all due to a fear of being penalised for using these funds. We have been working with Liam Conlon, and with other organisations supporting Survivors to try to raise awareness and to promote support for this law, so that it has the best possible chance of being implemented. The most effective and important way to support this law is to write to your local MP and ask them to publicly back Philomena’s Law. We would urge you to use the below email addresses to contact your local MP in Coventry: Zarah Sultana, Labour MP for Coventry South: zarah.sultana.mp@parliament.uk Mary Creagh, Labour MP for Coventry East: mary@marycreagh.co.uk Taiwo Owatemi, Labour MP for Coventry North West: taiwo.owatemi.mp@parliament.uk To get the best chance of your MP seeing your email, you should add ‘Constitutent Request’ in the subject of this email. We hope you will lend us the support we need to get justice for Irish Survivors. If you have any questions, do get in touch with Manisha O’Malley (Survivors Co-ordinator) at manisha.omalley@covirishsoc.org.uk or call us on 02476256629. You can follow the link below to download a free letter template, which you can send to your local MP in support of Philomena's Law.
Mental Health Support Worker (Post is for a one year contract - further funding might be available after one year subject to additional grant aid). Salary: £10,000 per year – 15 hours per-week 10-4pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (excluding lunch). Location: Eaton House, 1, Eaton Road Near Coventry City Centre. Established in 1993, Coventry Irish Society (CIS) is a Charity providing a wide range of community health and support services to the Irish community in Coventry. The Coventry Irish Society requires a Mental Health Support Worker to set up, organise and run a half day per-week Dementia Support Group and a half day per- week Walking Group for the local Irish Community. The role includes working with Carers and increasing mental health awareness to support the local Irish community. The charity predominantly supports older Irish but also supports Second and Third Generation Irish, Irish Survivors and Irish Travellers. . Please email your up to date CV with a cover letter clearly detailing your relevant experience in line with requirements of the role. A CV without an accompanying cover letter will not be accepted. simon.mccarthy@covirishsoc.org.uk or email Simon for further information. Actively interviewing. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. We are obliged to ask all successful applicants to complete a DBS Disclosure form
Coventry Irish Society had a fabulous time celebrating St. Patrick's Day 2025 with members and supporters. From our Lunch Club to celebrating at Christ the King Parish Church and All Souls Primary School. View images from this year's celebrations below. Coventry Irish Society Celebrates St. Patrick's Day 2025 at Christ the King Parish Church
