St Patrick's Day

March 17, 2010;
The annual national day is celebrated in cities and town across Ireland with parades and festivals of various types taking place almost everywhere.

While the biggest event is the St Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, those who can’t make it to the capital will have plenty to entertain them, and there are even some less frenetic events for those who prefer a quieter pace.

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March 12, 2010 to March 17, 2010.
Dublin holds Ireland’s biggest St Patrick’s day festival, a six day non-stop series of events, day and night, with something for all ages.

The big event is the annual parade through Dublin’s streets, with participants traveling from all over the world to take part in what is an increasingly colourful spectacle.

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The coming of Christianity brought not just faith but the important skills of reading and writing, until now unavailable to the Celts.

It also heralded the beginning of a rise in prosperity as farming skills improved and settlements, some of which would later be among Ireland’s largest cities and towns, grew up around the monasteries.

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July 29, 2009;
This mountain in Mayo is closely associated with St Patrick, and is the scene of an annual pilgrimage that can trace its origins to pre-Christian Ireland.

Pilgrims traditionally walk barefoot to the top of the mountain, over sharp and unstable stone tracks, in the process gaining penitence.

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March 13, 2010 to March 14, 2010.
For Petrolheads from all over Ireland St Patricks weekend each year means it’s time to head south to this long established rally.

Events take place on the narrow, winding and very beautiful roads around the west-Cork town of Clonakilty – it can be hardy weather down there in March, so prepare for the worst!

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More of an adventurous day out than a visit to a museum, St Patrick’s Trian is a hot favourite with kids.

As well as the story of St Patrick, there is a surprisingly good section on the history of Armagh and one about Gulliver’s Travels.

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