St Patrick’s Day is almost upon us, and if you’re not already mentally prepared to sink a dangerous amount of pints, then where have you been? It’s become a sacred day in the student calendar for anyone who loves to wear an obnoxious amount of green and pretend they’ve got some Irish heritage, just for the vibes.
If you’re not using the big day as an excuse to drink copious amounts of Guinness, there are plenty of ways to celebrate to truly honour the lore of Concert Square – and probably end up in Dirty O’Shea’s by 10pm.
Dress to impress
A good outfit always elevates any occasion, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception. Wearing green on the big day symbolises luck, which you’ll definitely need when your mates bring over their third tray of Baby Guinness at 11am. You can go all out with a green jersey, stylish in a slogan baby tee, or stick on a huge Guinness hat and call it a day. Either way, you’ll be joining in on the green madness and it’ll make for some good craic – and even better photos.
If green isn’t already in your wardrobe, then head to one of Liverpool’s charity shops on Bold Street to pick up your festive attire before the leprechauns beat you to it.
Line your stomach with something traditional
There’s nothing lowkey about celebrating Paddy’s Day in town. With a solid 12 hours of day drinking ahead of you, lining your stomach with an Ulster Fry or another traditional dish is definitely the way to go. Maybe a pint of Guinness for breakfast is more your style, and if you’re staying in until the afternoon, you could try your hand at making some soda bread from scratch – perfect to mop up the alcohol after a long day. You never know, you might even stumble across a green beer on your ventures, which is literally just a standard pint topped off with some green food colouring. Any excuse to start drinking first thing, right?
Head down to the parade
It’s part and parcel of celebrating St Patrick’s Day in town. Whether the end of the parade is your official sign to start drinking, or if you’d just prefer a quiet one, you can’t not head on down to tag along to the Paddy’s Day parade and start celebrating.
It starts at the Old Irish Centre on Mount Pleasant at 2pm, where it will wind through Hope Street, Upper Duke Street, and Berry Street. The Irish music, dancing, and a festive atmosphere are sure to keep you energised, and a great way to soak in the celebratory spirit of the day.
Drink more Guinness
It would be rude not to, right? If you’ve hit Paddy’s Day afternoon without already sinking a pint of the good stuff, you’re doing something wrong. We won’t tell anyone if you nick your friend’s Guinness just to take a photo with too – you’ve got to make the most of the outfit you’ve been planning for months.
Not in town yet? Try something cultural
Whether you give these things a go before the big day, or just fancy a quiet Paddy’s Day this year, trying out something cultural or historical might be the way to go. The Liverpool Irish Centre is another go to destination, hosting storytelling events and traditional Irish dance performances, offering a chance to dive deeper into Irish culture. You can also join a guided Irish heritage walking tour, which will take you through Liverpool’s deep rooted Irish history.
Get yourself into an Irish pub
Now the serious stuff is out the way, it’s time to head on down to one of our beloved Irish pubs or bars to get the party started. Concert Square is bound to be buzzing on the big day, and with spots like Shenanigans and Dirty O’Sheas right on your doorstep, there’s no excuse to not be chucking back an ungodly amount of vodka doubles and pints of Guinness. Students will use any excuse to go out day drinking – and there’s no better day to do it than on St Patrick’s.
Trust us when we say that nearly the entirety of Liverpool will be getting into the Irish spirit on Monday. Whether you’re celebrating your Irish heritage or are purely out to debut your green attire and knock back a few too many Baby Guinness shots, there’s something for everyone in town. Don’t forget to keep a tally of everyone who mentions that Ancestry DNA test they did four years ago that said they were two per cent Irish though.
