ST PATRICK’S DAY
GREEN GOALS
SUSTAINABILITY AT HEART OF FESTIVAL
SPORTING ICONS
IRISH CHAMPIONS LEAD PARADE
SAINTLY PATH
FOLLOWING ST PATRICK’S FOOTSTEPS
GAME TIME PUZZLES AND MORE…
#StPatsDayLDN
Happy St Patrick’s Day from everyone at Careys
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MAYOR OF LONDON’S ANNUAL
ST PATRICK’S PARADE AND FESTIVAL RETURNS
The Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade returns this month with celebrations set to get underway on Sunday, March 16.
Now in its 22nd year, the annual event is a firm highlight of London’s cultural calendar, bringing together visitors and Londoners alike to celebrate the many contributions the Irish community has made to the city.
And for 2025 there is a jam-packed lineup of artists, events and activities due to take place as revellers turn out to celebrate Ireland’s national day in style.
You can expect to find London transformed into a sea of green as the city’s spectacular St Patrick’s Parade gets underway in the morning.
Hot off the back of their sporting successes in Paris last year, two Irish icons will lead the parade. Paralympian Katie-George Dunlevy and Olympian Kellie Harrington are the Grand Marshals for 2025.
Born in Crawley, with family roots in Co. Donegal, cyclist Dunlevy clinched Ireland’s first gold medal of last year’s Paralympic Games and went on to win two further silver medals before the competition came to a close.
Dubliner Harrington made history last summer when she won gold in the boxing ring – making her the first Irish boxer ever to retain an Olympic title.
The pair will join Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at the head of the parade, to lead the procession
PROGRAMME GUIDE
Messages from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and Irish Ambassador to the UK, Martin Fraser
Page 4
The St Patrick’s Day Parade
Page 6
What’s on at the Festival Pages 10-11
Saintly footsteps in Co. Armagh
Pages 18-19
of colourful floats, marching bands, dance troupes and the best of St Patrick’s pageantry through the city’s streets.
Later that day Trafalgar Square will be a hive of activity as the Festival proceedings get underway.
A bustling main stage lineup, programmed by the London Irish Centre and hosted by IrishIndian-Malaysian DJ and broadcaster Tara Kumar, will include the likes of Kíla, Irish Women in Harmony and Ragz-CV.
There are also some exciting new additions to the St Patrick’s Festival 2025 – which boasts ‘Sustainability and Greening London’ as its theme. For the first time, Artburst will join in the fun. They will be running interactive workshops in the Children’s Zone using recycled and reused material to create headdresses, bunting and a giant mural.
Sustainability pioneer Nick Kelly will also be taking part in the celebrations, with his Dublinbased band Dogs.
Promoting the sustainability of both travel and music, Dogs made headlines when they travelled from their hometown in Ireland to Glastonbury to perform at the festival.
They will cycle all the way from Dublin to London to join the Mayor of London in the St Patrick’s Parade before going on to perform on the Festival main stage.
Mayor Sadiq Khan is more than ready to get the party started.
St Patrick’s Day poster – pull out and display this weekend Pages 24-25
Ireland – the need-toknow numbers Pages 28-29
Guinness: Behind the brew Pages 32-33
Children’s corner: Puzzles and more… Page 40
Festival fever – top spots to continue the party
Pages 44-45
Recipes – traditional bacon and cabbage followed by a sweet treat
Page 46
“London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival is a wonderful opportunity to experience the warmth, creativity and culture of our capital’s Irish community while celebrating the enduring ties between London and Ireland,” he said.
“We can’t wait to welcome you to what promises to be a fantastic day filled with music, joy and celebration.”
The festival is supported by title sponsor Sisk, associate partner Tourism Ireland, official partners Bord Bia and Toureen and supporting partners the London Irish Centre, Culture Ireland, the Irish Post and Maritime Radio.
Fiona Audley Editor
A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR OF LONDON, SADIQ KHAN
I am delighted that London’s fantastic St Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade will return on Sunday 16 March.
This annual celebration is a highlight of our city’s cultural calendar, bringing together Londoners and visitors to honour the immense contributions of the Irish community to our capital. From business and public service to the arts and culture, Irish Londoners have played – and continue to play – a vital role in shaping the very fabric of our city, making London a better, brighter and more prosperous place for everyone.
This year, we are thrilled to welcome Irish Paralympic gold medal winning cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy and Olympic gold medal boxer Kellie Harrington as our Grand Marshals. Following their incredible success in Paris last year, Katie-George and Kellie will lead the spectacular parade through the heart of central London. There will be great floats, marching bands, and dance troupes as the procession winds its way from Hyde Park Corner, past Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, and on to Whitehall. Trafalgar Square will be the centre of the celebrations with a family-friendly, free programme of entertainment hosted by Irish-Indian-Malaysian DJ and broadcaster Tara Kumar. The wide range of performances include world-class acts Kíla, Irish Women in
Harmony, and Ragz-CV.
There will be plenty more to explore throughout the day, with great food stalls and celebrity chef Anna Haugh returning to demonstrate how to cook some Irish culinary delights.
This year’s programme also includes the Irish Creative Collective Sessions showcasing comedy, music and Irish film and TV shorts. Visitors will also be able to see the Peace Heroines Exhibition celebrating unsung women heroes of Ireland.
There will be an opportunity to learn traditional Irish dancing steps in the Irish Dance Zone, while the Children’s Zone Artburst will run free creative workshops using recycled materials to promote sustainability – a key theme for this year’s event.
On the big screen there will be clips of The Song Cycle. This remarkable film documents Nick Kelly and his band Dogs as they cycled from Dublin to Glastonbury to perform at the 2022 festival. They’ll be cycling all the way from Dublin to London to join our parade before performing on the main stage.
London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival is a wonderful opportunity to experience the warmth, creativity and culture of our capital’s Irish community while celebrating the enduring ties
between London and Ireland.
We can’t wait to welcome you to what promises to be a fantastic day filled with music, joy and celebration.
Lá Fhéile
Pádraig Sona Daoibh!
A MESSAGE FROM THE IRISH AMBASSADOR TO THE UK, MARTIN FRASER
On behalf of my colleagues at the Embassy, my wife Deirdre, and our family, I would like to extend our warmest wishes for a happy St Patrick’s Day 2025 to the Irish community and all the friends of Ireland in Britain.
St Patrick’s Day offers Irish people, no matter where they are in the world, the chance to celebrate the culture and heritage that unites us, and to share that culture with our towns and cities, and all those who feel a connection to Ireland. It is a meaningful occasion for the Irish diaspora globally, and I am honoured to be part of the celebrations here in Britain.
The Irish community in Britain has forged a unique identity over generations. It is broad and diverse, talented and generous, and has made a remarkable contribution to public life here over the decades.
So many in this community devote their time and energy to supporting each other, through the tireless work of Irish organisations. There is so much to be proud of, as we see Irish artists, writers, filmmakers and musicians thrive, and our culture continue to blossom. There are nurses and doctors, and people succeeding in every industry across Britain. In my time here as Ambassador, I have had the pleasure to meet so many people who are not only achieving so much, but giving so much back.
The importance of the British-Irish relationship is made clear through bonds of family and friendship; these connections form the most enduring link between our islands. The relationship is strong, and we will continue to work to ensure that we take every opportunity to develop and strengthen cooperation between Britain and Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day is a time to celebrate, but also a moment to reflect, particularly on the ongoing work of peace, and all those who have over the years given tirelessly to that vital process.
We are grateful to the organisers of the memorable St. Patrick’s Day parades and celebrations across the country for creating an event that reflects modern Ireland: inclusion, creativity, and connection. The sight of thousands of people from all over the world celebrating together on the streets of London is a testament to the lasting presence of Irish communities in the city.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mayor Sadiq Khan and his team at City Hall for their ongoing support of the London-Irish community through this event, now in its 22nd year, which has become an unmissable highlight of the city’s cultural calendar.
I would also like to thank the members of the Community Advisory Group, a dedicated team
of volunteers that has provided invaluable support for this event.
Wherever you are this St. Patrick’s Day, we wish you a joyful and unforgettable day.
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh go léir!
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
Irish Ambassador Martin Fraser
ST PATRICK’S PARADE LONDON: SUNDAY, MARCH 16
The capital will turn an inviting shade of green this month as the Mayor of London’s 22nd annual St Patrick’s Festival gets underway in the city.
On Sunday, March 16 the capital’s ever-popular St Patrick’s Parade will take place.
For 2025 it will be led by not one but two Irish sporting icons.
Katie-George Dunlevy is Ireland’s most decorated Irish Paralympic athlete of all time.
Last year the Crawley-born para cyclist, whose family roots lie in Donegal, led the charge for Team Ireland at the Paris Paralympics.
Ireland won six medals in the 2024 competition – one gold,
ROUTE
three silver and two bronze – and Dunlevy secured half of them.
Boxer Kellie Harrington made history at the Olympics last summer.
The Dubliner became the first Irish boxer ever to retain an Olympic title after her victory over China’s Wenlu Yang in the women’s 60kg final in Paris.
Previously she won gold in the same competition at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
As Grand Marshals, the pair will take their place at the head of the St Patrick’s Parade as it makes its way through the streets of the capital flanked by roughly 50,000 people who come out to cheer on the procession each year.
A world class lineup of acts and artists awaits you at this month’s St Patrick’s Festival in London.
The party kicks off in Trafalgar Square from 12noon on March 16 and there is so much fun to be had that you really won’t want to miss a second of it.
CELEBRATIONS IN THE CAPITAL MEET YOUR HOSTTARA KUMAR
Programmed by the London Irish Centre, festivalgoers can expect a diverse celebration of all things Irish at this year’s event – from music to dancing and film to food.
Irish-Indian-Malaysian DJ and broadcaster Tara Kumar will host the main stage, where there will be performances from the likes of Kíla, Irish Women in Harmony and Ragz-CV.
For 2025 the Mayor of London’s event focuses on the theme ‘Sustainability and Greening London’.
With that in mind the Artburst organisation will join the festival for the first time, running interactive workshops in the Children’s Zone using recycled and reused material to create headdresses, bunting and a giant mural.
Clips from The Song Cycle will also be screened throughout the day, a new film documenting Nick Kelly and his band Dogs cycling and performing all the way from Dublin to Glastonbury to take part in the music festival in 2022.
“Promoting the sustainability of both travel and music, we’re thrilled to announce that they’ll be doing the same again cycling from Dublin to London to join us on the parade and then to perform on the main stage,” the Mayor of London’s office confirmed.
Other new additions to Trafalgar Square this year include the Irish Creative Collective Sessions - where you can enjoy comedy, music, spoken words and Irish film and television shorts, the Irish Dance Zone - where you can learn some basic Irish dancing steps, and the Peace Heroine’s Exhibition - which showcases some of Ireland’s unsung female heroes.
And celebrity Irish chef Anna Haugh is back this year to delight revellers with her culinary treats.
Owner and head chef at Myrtle restaurant in the heart of Chelsea, Haugh opened her new Irish wine bar The Wee Sister right next door last November.
So, there is all that to get stuck into, and plenty more, too.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Your St Patrick’s Festival main stage host for 2025 is Tara Kumar.
The DJ and broadcaster, who was born in Alice Springs, Australia, moved to London last year after six years living in Ireland.
Formerly a DJ on 2FM, she has quickly made her mark at BBC Radio 1, becoming a go-to cover for the Future Sounds, Artists, and Indie shows.
A dynamic DJ with an infectious energy,
she returned to the GQ Hero Awards this summer for the second year running and regularly collaborates with Condé Nast, spinning at events like the Glamour and Men of the Year awards.
Beyond radio, Tara has built a strong presence in both music and fashion. She has played top Irish festivals, including Electric Picnic, Longitude, and Forbidden Fruit, and even supported Cher on her Dublin arena tour.
YOUR MAIN STAGE ST PATRICK’S FESTIVAL ARTISTS INCLUDE…
DOGS
Dogs is the product of a recent collaboration between Irish singer-songwriters Nick Kelly and Seán Millar, who are long-term friends.
Several songs from their debut album Joy also feature on their award-winning new feature film The Song Cycle – which documents their sustainable tour by bicycle and bus to perform at Glastonbury 2022.
Dogs will travel sustainably to and perform live at the Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Festival this month, where clips of The Song Cycle will also be screened.
KÍLA
TOSHÍN
Toshín is a Nigerian-born, Irish-raised artist known for her powerhouse vocals and electrifying stage presence.
Blending soul, R&B, Afro-pop, and theatrical storytelling, she creates immersive performances that captivate audiences with raw emotion, vibrant energy, and authenticity.
A staple in Ireland’s live music scene, Toshín has performed at festivals like Electric Picnic and All Together Now, sharing the stage with iconic artists such as Macy Gray, Gregory Porter, and Madness.
Formed at school in Dublin’s late 1980’s, the award-winning Kíla are heralded as one of Ireland’s most innovative and exciting bands.
Their unique sound has been ever evolving, rooted in tradition, yet inspired by a myriad of influences and ideas from all around the world.
Often defined as contemporary Irish world music, Kíla fuse the effects of their own melodies and Irish lyrics, Irish folk instruments such as whistles, fiddles, Uilleann pipes, bones and bodhrán with djembe, congas, drums, mandolins, brass, and acoustic/electric/ bass guitars.
The band’s eight members come from the differing musical backgrounds of traditional, classical, and rock.
The result is a fresh blend of freewheeling instrumentals, furious jigs, and primal rhythms that transcend the traditional boundaries of Irish music.
RAGZ-CV
Ragz-CV is a Jamaican and Irish spoken word artist from Brixton, South London. Renowned for his authentic style, he weaves personal experiences into powerful evocative verse.
Ragz is an award-winning poet with over 10 years’ experience performing on hundreds of stages worldwide, and the founder and CEO of youth charity Poetic Unity, which has used poetry as a tool to support thousands of young people worldwide since 2015.
IRISH WOMEN IN HARMONY
Irish Women in Harmony is a collective of Irish female artists who have come together to support one another - both creatively and practically - in pursuit of their artistic goals. In the broader community the collective aims to raise public consciousness for women and children living in crisis.
Artists who will feature at the St Patrick’s Festival in Trafalgar Square this month include RuthAnne, Erica Cody, Soulé, Aimee and Fia Moon.
EVA O’CONNOR
Award-winning writer and performer Eva O’Connor hails from from Ogonnelloe in Co. Clare.
Creating works for stage, screen and radio, O’Connor also runs Sunday’s Child Theatre with Hildegard Ryan and recently launched a new writing event, titled What’s the Story?, at the London Irish Centre.
O’Connor’s plays include the award-winning Chicken (2023), Mustard (2019) and Overshadowed (2018).
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STILL GOING STRONG
The London Irish Centre celebrates 70 years
In September 2025, the London Irish Centre (LIC) celebrates 70 years of supporting, entertaining, educating and connecting the Irish community in London.
The UK’s largest and oldest Irish centre brings a sense of Ireland, a home from home for the diaspora, to the capital. From the Irish language to traditional and contemporary Irish music, from GAA to theatre and comedy, the LIC is the Irish place for everyone in the city - and not just on St Patrick’s Day either.
Explore the LIC’s arts, culture and education programmes, access accredited advice and support, or connect with
people across their wide range of community services and events, many of which look after the needs of the most vulnerable and isolated.
From the mid-century post-war emigrants for whom the LIC was founded, to the young parents and professionals of today, the organisation serves every generation. Their door is open to everyone, Irish or not, whether you’re at a gig, in toddler club, enjoying a quiet pint in the bar, seeking volunteer opportunities, or needing support.
Visit londonirishcentre.org to find out more and discover Irish culture in London.
Celebrate with music, dance, food and more. From the festival in Trafalgar Square to the famous parade from Hyde Park. It’ll be grand!
London.gov.uk/St-Patricks-2025 SUNDAY 16 MARCH 12–6pm | Trafalgar Square | Free
SAINTLY FOOTSTEPS
Historic St Patrick’s Way walk marks 10-year anniversary
AN 82-mile signed walking trail which encompasses key sites relating to Saint Patrick celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Starting at the Navan Centre in Armagh, the route takes walkers through some of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular scenic landscapes before ending at Saint Patrick’s final resting place, in the grounds of Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, Co. Down.
The trail was launched in March 2015, supported by Tourism Northern Ireland in conjunction with Armagh, Down, Banbridge and Newry and Mourne District Councils.
It was the brainchild of the late Alan Graham, a seasoned Camino walker, who wished to highlight the life, landscape and legacy of St Patrick.
“It goes back many years, after I read the exploits of the famous Irish explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton on his adventures in the Antarctic, in particular his epic journey from Elephant Island to South
Georgia, in which he saved his men from certain death,” Mr Graham once said when asked what inspired him to create the route.
“The words that had a big impression on me, were how Shackleton described his inner feelings, that he was not alone, he knew there was another invisible force encouraging him to save his men,” he explained further.
St Patrick’s Way pilgrims and, above, Down Cathedral
Saul Church in Downpatrick
“As I have been on many Arctic and Alpine exhibitions, I could understand what Sir Ernest Shackleton meant, and how hardship on a long walk can develop your personality and spirituality.
“When I was walking the Camino de Santiago I was lying in my bunk wide awake due to the noise of my fellow pilgrims and it came to me as if from that voice that Shackleton heard, why not develop a pilgrimage route for Saint Patrick?
“I thought Saint Patrick should be honoured with a pilgrim route in his name. I asked many pilgrims en route and they encouraged me to pursue the project.
“When I got home, I started to plan the route of the pilgrimage.
“I looked to Armagh as the
starting point. Saint Patrick had made Armagh the most important site for religion in Ireland and as he is buried in Downpatrick it was obvious to me that this would be the initial route for the walk.”
Ten years since it was first launched, Mr Graham’s route is still being enjoyed by many St Patrick pilgrims and hikers every year.
A route which boasts many variations of countryside, Saint Patrick’s Way covers everything from rural country lanes to canal towpaths and continues over hills and wild places, reaching as far as the sea.
Walkers can even collect stamps along the way in a special Pilgrim’s Passport which includes a map of the trail.
SAINT PATRICK’S WAY - THE WALK
Navan Centre to Armagh – 5km
As Emain Macha, Navan Fort was the ancient seat of Kings and earliest capital of Ulster. Saint Patrick is thought to have healed a local chieftain, Daire, who then gave him the site on the hill in Armagh to build his church. In Ard Macha, or Armagh, Saint Patrick established the city as a great seat of Christianity, as it remains today, and the city grew around his church. The city is rich in elegant Georgian architecture and fascinating Christian heritage. Explore Saint Patrick’s Church Of Ireland Cathedral, Saint Patrick’s RC Cathedral, Armagh County Museum, Armagh Robinson Library, 5 Vicar’s Hill and Armagh Observatory and Planetarium.
Armagh to Scarva – 30km approx
The area offers brisk cycle routes and you can explore the charm and beauty of Moneypenny’s Lockhouse and trace the history of Newry Canal. Banbridge is only a short distance from Scarva, and worth the detour. Proximity to the River Bann helped develop the linen industry in the area, and Ferguson’s Linen Factory still thrives as one of the last makers of quality damask Irish linen. Visit the F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio, located one mile from Banbridge Town Centre, dedicated to the memory of Banbridge-born sculptor Frederick Edward McWilliam, one of Ireland’s most influential and successful artists.
Scarva to Newry – 20km
This section of the journey is via Newry Canal towpath, on mainly flat waterside paths, to the historic city of Newry. Newry Canal is the oldest summit level canal in Britain and
Ireland, and opened in 1742, connecting Portadown and Newry. It once had 14 lock gates. The workers who dug the canal were known as ‘navvies’ and these men lived in camps alongside the canal as they worked. While travelling on his mission in Ireland, Saint Patrick spent time in a place called Glen Righe, or Clanrye. Patrick planted a yew tree here above the Clanrye River that flows through Newry, as a symbol of his faith. Today, Newry city’s coat of arms shows Saint Patrick between yew trees.
Newry to Rostrevor – 15km
The walk takes you through stunning scenery as you approach Warrenpoint and then Rostrevor. Looking across Carlingford Lough you can see the Cooley Mountains, while looking north-east, the Mourne Mountains tower before you. The picturesque village of Rostrevor contains many fine eighteenth and nineteenth century homes and has barely changed from its Edwardian heyday. From the charming C.S. Lewis-inspired Narnia Trail to its world-class mountain bike trails, Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor offers a host of attractions. Rostrevor is also home to the Holm Oak Tree, Northern Ireland’s representative for the ‘European Tree of The Year 2017’ competition.
Rostrevor to Newcastle – 38km
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you’ll follow parts of the Ulster Way and Mourne Way, through the foothills of the mountains on spectacular terrain. CS Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia, holidayed in the Mournes near Rostrevor, and the location inspired his fictional landscapes. The summit of Slieve Donard, the highest
peak in Northern Ireland, has a hermit’s cell in the Great Cairn and an oratory in the Lesser Cairn, both constructed by Saint Donard. He was the son of a local pagan chieftain and an important disciple of Saint Patrick. Donard’s conversion to Christianity is said to have been prompted by Saint Patrick bringing Donard’s bull back to life after it had been butchered.
Newcastle to Tyrella – 18km
Leaving Newcastle, you pass the elegant facade of the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, then the world-famous Royal County Down Golf Club that hosted the Irish Open 2015. The path then leads you to Murlough National Nature Reserve.
After exploring the ancient sand dune ecosystem, the Walk follows the inner bay to the villages of Dundrum and Clough. Look out for wading birds on the mudflats as this is an important habitat for them.
Tyrella to Downpatrick – 16km
The story of Christianity in Ireland began in Downpatrick and the Lecale area, where Saint Patrick brought his boat ashore on Strangford Lough. Visitors can still walk in Saint Patrick’s footsteps, from Saul Church, said to be the first ecclesiastical site in Ireland, to The Ruins of St. Tassach’s Church (near Raholp), famed as the place where Saint Patrick was given the last rites, or the Holy Wells at Struell, where legend has it that Patrick sung psalms all night whilst naked! Today, these wells are more commonly known for their reputed healing powers. The spiritual centre of this section of The Pilgrim’s Walk is Down Cathedral, a place of Christian worship since the 5th century.
Exploring Saul Church
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MORE COWS THAN PEOPLE
All-important facts and figures about the Emerald Isle…
ARE there really more cows than people in Ireland? You might be surprised to hear it, but the answer is yes.
There are roughly two million more cattle than people currently living in southern Ireland. That is just one of many fascinating facts about the Irish nation that have been collated in a new book created off the back of information gathered in Ireland’s most recent census.
In April 2022, people across the nation answered the extensive questionnaire which seeks to gain a true perspective on the make-up of modern Ireland.
The results offer an important insight into what it means to be Irish today.
Author Jackie McCann was so inspired by the census findings that she used them to create her latest book, Ireland in Numbers.
With illustrations by artist Dermot Flynn, the title provides answers to all the burning questions you may have about the Emerald Isle. So, whether you are Irish, of Irish descent or a friend of the island, here are some of the numbers you really need to know…
EMIGRATION
Ireland is the only country in Europe with fewer people living there today than 200 years ago. Why is that that you ask? Well, it’s largely due to emigration.
Some 8.2million people lived in Ireland in 1841, when the Great Famine or An Gorta Mór began.
More than one million people died from starvation or disease during the Famine years,
while another one million fled the island between 1845 and 1855.
By 1890 four out of every 10 people born in Ireland had left their homeland.
And by 1961 the population of Ireland was at a record low of just four million.
Ireland’s census 2022 recorded 5.3million people living in southern Ireland – it was the first time in 171 years that the population of the Republic was greater than five million people.
There are almost two million people currently living in Northern Ireland.
LANGUAGE MATTERS
Until roughly 200 years ago, Gaelic was the first language for Irish people. While most people speak English now, Irish is still the
national and first official language of Ireland. Most people who speak Gaelic regularly in Ireland live in one of the country’s Gaeltachtaí. These are places where Irish is the main language spoken and they are mostly located in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Meath.
Roughly 66,000 people living in Gaeltacht regions speak Irish, but only 20,000 speak it all the time.
In total, across the country, there are 200,000 people who can speak Irish very well, some 600,000 people speak the language well, almost two million people speak some Irish and one million speak no Irish at all.
There are of course people living in Ireland who speak languages of their own – Hindi, Romanian, Polish, Croatian and Portuguese are among the other languages that are heard across the country.
Ukrainian is the fastest growing language in
Gaelic is Ireland’s first official language
Ireland due to the arrival of almost 100,000 Ukrainian people there since the outbreak of war in their country in 2022.
RURAL IRELAND
Farming has been a way of life in Ireland for at least 5,000 years. With rich soil and plenty rain, the land is perfect for cultivating.
More people live on the land and farm in Ireland than in any other EU country.
Over 60 per cent of the land in Ireland is used for agriculture - there are 135,000 farms across the country.
There are two million more cows than people in Ireland – which boasts 7.4 million cattle, as well as six million sheep and 1.7million pigs.
There are less cows than people in Northern Ireland, which has 1.675 million cattle and 1.9 million people
Donkeys are also a well-loved animal in Ireland, there are 5,000 of them there today but in 1900 there were around 250,000 of them, mostly working the land.
There are more than 80,000 tractors in Ireland.
FAMILY LIFE
Some 1.28 million families live in Ireland and they come in all shapes and sizes.
1.8million people over the age of 18 are married.
There are more than 10,000 same-sex couples.
Around 220,000 families have one parent –most of these are one-parent families with a mother.
The average age for a bride is 35, while a groom is 37.
The average age when a woman has her first baby in Ireland is 31.5 years old.
The most popular baby names in Ireland are Rian or Oisín for boys or Fiadh or Éabha for girls. However, 100 years ago a quarter of all boys born in Ireland were called John or Patrick and a quarter of all girls were called Mary or Bridget.
The most common surname in Ireland today is the same as it was 100 years ago – Murphy.
CULTURAL TIES
Thanks to the huge number of people who have emigrated across the world, Irish culture is known and celebrated far and wide.
Festivals such as Halloween, which comes from the ancient Irish festival of Samhain, and St Patrick’s day, are celebrated throughout the world.
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in 200 countries, but the first ever St Patrick’s Day parade was held more than 400 years ago in St Augustine in Florida, which was then a Spanish colony. On March 17, 1601 a procession was organised by an Irish priest in honour of St Patricio, who was the protector of the corn fields.
Festivals are a regular fixture on the Irish calendar and have been for hundreds of years. The world’s largest celebration of Irish music is the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, a week-long event boasting the best of Irish music, song, dance and language which takes place in a different county each year. For 2025 the event will be held in Co. Wexford from August 3-10.
The oldest festival is Puck Fair in Killorgan, Co. Kerry, where a wild mountain goat is crowned ‘king’ for three days. This annual event has drawn crowds to the town for hundreds of years.
at www.gillbooks.ie and in bookshops and online stores.
Ireland in Numbers, by Jackie McCann, is published by Gill Books. It is available to buy
HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY
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BEHIND THE BREW
How Arthur Guinness’ stout became a global Irish icon
IT’S hard to imagine a St Patrick’s Day without Guinness.
Whether you are a fan of it or not, the significance of a pint of the black stuff when it comes to this particular Irish holiday cannot be understated.
For many nothing says celebrating your Irishness like ordering a pint of Guinness on March 17.
And for those who don’t enjoy the drink, they still enjoy the brand – which has long held the imagination of people across the world with its thoughtful advertising campaigns, eye-catching slogans and coveted merchandise.
Testament to its popularity are the millions of people who have made the pilgrimage from countries across the world to visit the Guinness Storehouse, the former brewery located in St James’s Gate, Dublin which has been home to the drink since it was first created.
In 2023 alone the popular Irish tourist attraction, which remains the headquarters of the brewing dynasty, welcomed more than 1.5million visitors from 165 countries.
And some 28 per cent of them came from the UK.
In the same year the Storehouse was named the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards in Dubai.
Now it’s only a drink, you might cry, a pint of dry stout, a glass or a bottle of something to enjoy in the pub – or increasingly at home these days – after a long day at work.
So why all the fuss?
Well in reality, Guinness, the pint and the name, is far more than just a drink.
It is a piece of Irish history, a global success story that has captured tastebuds, hearts and imaginations for hundreds of years.
It is the story of an Irish entrepreneur who created something so unique and so wellloved that it sparked a family business that would survive for generations and a product that remains as popular today as it ever was.
One of those family members, Rory Guinness, has now decided to share that story more widely, by writing an “insider’s guide” to the business and the family too.
The newly published title, World of Guinness provides a “snapshot” of what his family has achieved, Mr Guinness says, while also being “a very Irish tribute to the wonders of beer, combining science and craft with tradition and endeavour”.
The story starts with Kildare native Arthur Guinness in the year 1759.
The author is a descendant of the founder, whom he describes as an “entrepreneur with a vision to create a brewery and a home for his family”.
“The Guinness story in Dublin began in 1759, when Arthur Guinness (1725–1803) left behind his small brewery in Leixlip, Co. Kildare and came to the city to seek his fortune,” Mr Guinness explains.
“With a bequest of £100 from the estate of his godfather Dr Arthur Price, Archbishop of Cashel, he purchased a 9,000-year lease on a
dilapidated brewery on St James’s Gate, with an annual rent of £45.”
He adds: “St James’s Gate offered Arthur the benefits of pure water, sourced from the Rivers Dodder and Poddle, while the canal network offered opportunities to import raw ingredients from the countryside and distribute his fine beers.
“Later on, the rail network and River Liffey opened up the world for exports.”
Once the brewery was up and running in Dublin, initially Arthur Guinness was brewing mostly the ales and light beers which were popular at the time.
THE BREW
Guinness has always been brewed using four simple ingredients: barley, water, hops and yeast.
Guinness gathers its barley from all over Ireland, while the water is sourced from fresh springs and reservoirs in the Wicklow Mountains.
Contrary to popular belief, water from the River Liffey has never been used in the production of Guinness.
Hops are purchased from all over the world and blended to give Guinness its unique bitterness and aroma, but the Guinness yeast is a unique strain of brewing yeast that can be traced back to at least 1903.
That yeast is the key to bonding all the elements together.
However, he soon noticed a new trend.
“Arthur had seen a dark beer being drunk with increasing popularity by the porters of Covent Garden market and Billingsgate market in London,” Mr Guinness explains.
The St James’s Gate site in Dublin
“As a result, he began brewing his own porter and stout.
“Within a matter of years, Arthur’s experiment with the darker beers had become so successful that after his death in 1803, his son Arthur II (1768–1855) devoted
THE ADVERTISING
For the first 170 years, Guinness never advertised, it let the beer do the talking. But in 1929, the Guinness family agreed that the brand could make adverts, as long as the quality was as good as the quality of their product,
In February 1929, the first official Guinness advert appeared in the national British press with the slogan ‘Guinness is Good for You’.
The brand has continued to produce impactful adverts ever since, from John Gilroy’s iconic Guinness Toucan to the 1999 Surfer advert, directed by Jonathan Glazer, which went on to be voted the greatest TV commercial ever.
more and more resources to this new brew.
“Soon foreign buyers began to arrive in Dublin unsolicited to buy Guinness.
“Word was spreading that Dublin was brewing something special.”
The word on Guinness was out and it hasn’t been put back in the bottle ever since, with fans of the black stuff to be found in all
corners of the globe.
“The earliest recorded export of stout from St James’s Gate was in 1796, when it first made the trip to England,” Mr Guinness confirms.
“In 1801, Arthur Guinness I introduced a special brew for export, West India Porter (now known as Foreign Extra Stout), made with extra hops so that it could travel the high seas and still arrive in perfect condition.
“Over the next thirty years, shipments were recorded to Lisbon, the southern states of America, the West Indies and sub-Saharan Africa,” he added.
“In 1858, almost 100 years after the brewery wa founded, eighty cases, each containing three dozen bottles of Guinness, made their way to the southern hemisphere to be enjoyed in New Zealand.”
By 1870, one in ten bottles of the brew was being sold overseas and this increased dramatically from 1873 to 1961, where exports of stout to foreign lands started their journey in steam and mechanised barges carrying barrels down the River Liffey to Dublin Docks.
Guinness’ global expansion increased rapidly over the course of the 19th century and, by 1880, St. James’s Gate was the largest brewery in the world.
With such global notoriety came the need to clearly identify the product.
Today, Guinness is widely recognised by its iconic branding, a trademark label, first introduced in 1862 and trademarked in 1876, which includes three core elements.
These are the Arthur Guinness signature, the harp and the Guinness wordmark.
Guinness chose a distinctly Irish symbol for the core of its identity – the harp, which has been a heraldic symbol of Ireland since the 13th century.
The Guinness harp emblem is based on the famous 14th-century ‘Brian Boru harp’, which remains on display at Trinity College Dublin today.
In 1922 the Irish Free State adopted the same harp as its emblem, which can be found on Irish passports and on the back of Irish coins.
However, if you look closely you will notice
INSIDER’S VIEW:
“Being born a Guinness is a great privilege, not least because there is a world of family and commercial history that faces a descendant of Arthur Guinness,” says Rory Guinness.
“Sometimes this can be disadvantageous, such as when handling the politics of the playground,” he adds.
“However, sometimes it can be immensely rewarding, especially when discovering a new brewery feat of a long-distant cousin.
“It never fails to astound me how many people, young and old, from the four corners of the earth, have formed an opinion or posed a question on the subject of Guinness,” Mr Guinness admits.
“This book is a short introduction to the
THE FUTURE
Over the years Guinness has continually introduced new award-winning technologies, such as its widget, launched in 1988 which saw Guinness Draft made available in a can for the first time.
More recently the brand’s NitroSurge and MicroDraught offerings have revolutionised the home pour, and the company confirms there are still “working on the next phase of ground-breaking research to improve the Guinness experience”.
a difference between the two emblems.
In order to avoid infringing on the Guinness trademark, the Irish state had to face its harp in the opposite direction.
The Guinness harp always displays the sound board (the straight edge) to the left, while the State harp’s sound board is to the right.
Rapid growth and heightened global demand for Guinness continued throughout the 1800s, which meant that more space was needed to increase production.
In order to accommodate that need the St James’s Gate brewery was extended quite significantly.
The company bought up surrounding land and buildings to expand the brewery and the Guinness Storehouse was built at St James’s Gate between 1902 and 1904.
The first fermentation in the Guinness Storehouse took place in March 1906.
The building used to produce 65 million gallons - or 520 million pints of Guinnessevery year.
Its last fermentation took place in 1986, when a new state-of-the-art plant was built elsewhere on the St James’s Gate Site.
Since 2000 the Guinness Storehouse has been the attraction that is known today – a cultural landmark in Ireland which pays tribute to Guinness’s past and its future while showcasing the remarkable evolution of the brand.
World of Guinness – to the beer, its people and our family.
“There are some incredible people who keep Arthur’s candle burning…and it is wonderful to see the Storehouse developing in a way that would make all generations of my family very proud indeed.”
Rory Guinness is the author of World of Guinness.
A brewer by birth, he is an authority on the history of the Guinness family. His father Benjamin Guinness, the third Earl of Iveagh, was the last family chairman of Guinness. World of Guinness, published by Scala, is available in all good bookshops and online stores.
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GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS
HOW THE IRISH WORLDWIDE MARK ST PATRICK’S DAY
THERE are roughly 80 million people across the globe who claim some Irish ancestry.
So, it’s no surprise to find St Patrick’s Day, which honours one of Ireland’s three patron saints, marked in nations across the globe each March.
Whether you are first, second, third or any other generation Irish, celebrating your heritage is an important way to stay connected to it and to honour that part of your identity which belongs to the Emerald Isle. Here’s a lookback at how and where the Irish community celebrated St Patrick’s Day in 2024…
TOKYO, JAPAN
Children’s corner
Fun St Patrick’s Day activities
Can you find the hidden path to the leprechaun’s pot of gold?
1. 1.
2. Answer
3. WORD SEARCH PUZZLE
happy saint patrick’s day 2025
FESTIVAL FEVER
In Ireland the fun doesn’t stop on St Patrick’s Day. No, there are festivals and celebrations to be enjoyed all year long – boasting the best of Irish culture, music, food and drink and the arts. So, if all this talk of March 17 has whetted your appetite for more, well here are just some of the events taking place across the Emerald Isle in the coming months.
CÚIRT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE
Cúirt is one of Europe’s oldest book festivals, and a leading voice for literature both internationally and across Ireland. Founded in 1985 as a three-day poetry festival, it has since grown to the week-long festival that it is today, which includes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, events for all ages, and community-focused activities. Expect plenty of discussion from Irish and international authors celebrating writing, books and reading in all forms.
Waterford Festival of Food is one of Ireland’s largest and longest-running community food festivals. The main hub for this three-day event is the scenic harbour town of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford with events also taking place in nearby Lismore, Ardmore, Villierstown, Ballyduff, Cappoquin and Kilmeaden, making it a unique showcase of the flavours and characters local to this food region.
CITY OF DERRY JAZZ FESTIVAL
The City of Derry Jazz Festival celebrates its 24th anniversary this year, welcoming global audiences for a weekend of live jazz, cultural events, and the Guinness Jazz Trail.
Originally launched in 2001 by Gerry McColgan, the annual event has become part of the fabric of the people, the culture and the life of Derry ever since.
Inspired by the Cork Jazz Festival, Gerry and his colleague Johnny Murray wanted to “combine the city’s rich musical reputation, it’s unique history, and the abundance of local jazz talent on it’s doorstep” the organisers explain.
1 – 5 MAY 1 – 5 APRIL 25 -27
This year marks the 16th annual event, which promises guided taste tours, kitchen table talks, high profile guest chef dining events, sustainability workshops, and pop-up experiences in unusual locations.
BIRR FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
Curated by Niall Kinsella, the Birr Festival of Music is an annual classical music festival that features a mix of indoor and outdoor concerts, pop-ups, street performances and workshops.
Established in 2016, the event in Offaly is “an ever-developing annual classical music festival” which includes “a vibrant range of events; concerts (indoors and outdoors), workshops, street performances, pop-up and online events featuring singers and musicians of national and international acclaim” the organisers confirm.
MAY 3 – 4
Greenfields in Co. Kildare is the ideal festival for anyone who fancies a weekend of glamping, camping and tunes.
Last year’s event saw the likes of The Whistling Donkeys and Aslan take to the stage, while the lineup for 2025 has yet to be announced, tickets are already selling like hotcakes.
INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE FESTIVAL DUBLIN
Dublin is one of the world’s great literature cities and the now-famous International Literature Festival hosts readings, conversations, debates, screenings, guided walks, events, podcasts and broadcasts. Since its inaugural festival in 1998, the event has brought the world’s finest writers together to enthral, engage and excite audiences. The organisers pride themselves on “celebrating the very best Irish and international fiction and non-fiction authors, poets, lyricists, playwrights and screenwriters”.
They add: “Irish language writing and emerging talent are always supported, and new voices championed through commissions and public initiatives.”
FLEADH NUA ENNIS
If you are after something more traditional from your festival, well the Fleadh Nua is the one for you.
The event returns to Ennis in Co. Clare in May, for a 10-day celebration of Irish traditions, including concerts, céilís, music sessions, street performances, and workshops.
Over 120 separate events will be on offer this year, where “there is a welcome for everyone”, the organisers state.
BLACKWATER VALLEY OPERA FESTIVAL
All roads lead to classical music in Waterford this May as the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival returns.
This year sees the Festival mark its 15th anniversary with a programme of opera, music, and cultural events, planned by by its Artistic Director, Dieter Kaegi, set in the majestic Blackwater Valley. Some 23 events, recitals, and concerts will take place in 12 historic venues across the Blackwater Valley.
2
LISTOWEL WRITERS’ WEEK
Listowel Writers’ Week is Ireland’s oldest literary and arts festival. Founded in 1970, with the first festival taking place in 1971, the organiser wished to transform a beautiful Kerry heritage town into a literary universe and make it a literary haven where writers and book-lovers from all corners of the globe can gravitate to, for a celebration of literature, cultural experiences and inspiration.
They more than succeeded in that aim, and today the beautiful town of Listowel continues to welcome many writers, artists and poets who congregate there for the duration of the festival.
“We promote the writing of all genres and create an environment where literature can be appreciated by the widest possible audience –gathering writers and readers to celebrate the written word together,” the organisers confirm.
GALWAY INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) is a multidisciplinary event which takes place each July in Galway.
The annual programme includes Irish and international work featuring theatre, music, visual arts, opera, street spectacle, dance, discussion and comedy.
A highlight is Benjamin Britten in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Tony Award-winner Patrick Mason, with the Irish Chamber Orchestra conducted by David Brophy in the grounds of Lismore Castle.
In addition to the celebrated annual festival, GIAF presents a major discussion platform on creativity and innovation, First Thought Talks. Founded in 1978, the event has grown exponentially since then and now welcomes hundreds of thousands of attendees each year at hundreds of events.
For 2025, Picture This, The Mary Wallopers and Block Rockin Beats have all been announced among the main stage lineup.
COMFORT FOOD
If you’re planning on cooking some traditional Irish fayre this St Patrick’s Day, we’ve got you covered.
Nothing says home like a decent plate of bacon and cabbage and this recipe from Bord Bia, Ireland’s food board, offers a tasty twist on the Irish classic with a tangy mustard sauce. Of course it wouldn’t be a celebration without cake, so we’ve also included their recipe for shamrock cupcakes – perfect for children of all ages, and adults too. This is comfort food at its best, deeply rooted in Irish tradition and history, so grab your ingredients, get cooking and bring a taste of Ireland to your celebrations this March 17.
TRADITIONAL BACON AND CABBAGE WITH MUSTARD SAUCE
INGREDIENTS
• 1½kg loin of bacon
• 1 carrot
• 2 celery sticks
• 2 leeks
• 1 teasp. peppercorns
• 1kg cabbage, finely sliced
• 1 tablesp. butter
Topping
• 1 tablesp. mustard
• 1 tablesp. oven-dried breadcrumbs
• ½ tablesp. brown sugar
• Knob of butter
Mustard Sauce
• 50g butter
• 25g flour
• 1 tablesp. mustard
• 250ml mixture cooking liquid and cream
SHAMROCK CUPCAKES
INGREDIENTS
• 200g caster sugar
• 200g soft butter
• 4 medium eggs
• 1tsp Irish cream liqueur (optional)
• 200g self-raising flour
• 1 pack green sugarpaste icing sugar
• 1 tub ready-made royal icing
Equipment
• 2 x 12 cup muffin tins
• 24 muffin cases
• Shamrock cutter
METHOD
1. Place the joint in a large saucepan. Add chopped vegetables and peppercorns. Cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for approximately 20 minutes per ½ kg.
2. Set oven to Gas Mark 6, 200ºC (400ºF).
3. Remove the joint from the saucepan. Reserve liquid.
4. Remove the rind and score the fat. Place the joint on a roasting dish. Spread with mustard and breadcrumbs, sugar and a knob of butter. Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
5. To Make the Sauce: Melt the butter, add the flour and mustard. Cook for a minute or two. Whisk in the cooking liquid and cream.
6. Bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
7. Taste for seasoning. The sauce should have the consistency of thin cream. Keep warm.
METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC, fan 160ºC, gas mark 4.Set oven to Gas Mark 6, 200ºC (400ºF).
2. Put the sugar and butter in an electric mixer and beat until pale and fluffy.
3. Beat the eggs lightly in a small bowl and add slowly to the mix, using medium speed. If the mixture starts to curdle, add a little of the flour.
4. When the eggs and butter mixture is well combined, mix in the liqueur (if using) and the remaining flour at slow speed.
5. Divide the mixture between the muffin cases using two teaspoons or a piping bag with a wide nozzle [no.10].
6. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the sponge is lightly golden and springs back to the touch. Leave to cool before icing.
7. To make shamrock decorations: Roll out the green sugarpaste to about 3mm thickness using a little icing sugar to prevent sticking. Cut out shamrock shapes and put to one side.
SERVES: 4-6 PEOPLE
TIME: 1HR 20MINS
8. To Cook the Cabbage: Place the cabbage in a saucepan and barely cover with some of the reserved cooking liquid.
9. Bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes. Drain well and toss in butter. Season to taste.
10. Slice the bacon and serve on the bed of cabbage, a little of the mustard sauce and of course floury potatoes.
MAKES 24
8. Prepare the royal icing as on the pack and cover the cupcakes with a spoon or pallet knife [Add green colouring if desired].
9. Place the green shamrock shapes on the icing before completely set. Wait until fully set before serving.
Recipes provided by Bord Bia, the Irish food board
- Sláinte.
