What went on for this year's virtual Saint Patrick's Day

We looked at what the online world has to offer for Saint Patrick's Day, as Ireland hunkered down for another parade day at home

Twins Ellie and Jack O’Herlihy at Cork’s iconic Shakey Bridge, one of 40 locations in Cork going green for the Cork St Patrick’s Festival this year. 

While we hunker down for another St Patrick’s Day at home, the virtual world is proving that the Irish spirit is stronger than any pandemic could hold back.

As of this morning, one of the top trending topics on Twitter was the hashtag #proudtobeirish, as users from Neven McGuire to the Irish Foreign Ministry took to the platform to post about their national pride and wish each other a safe and happy holiday.

The latter's viral tweet, which features a video message from world leaders such as US President Joe Biden and New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern wishing Ireland a happy St Patrick’s Day, shot Prince William up the trending list.

We have a saying in Irish 'Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine'

We live in each other's shadows

It speaks to the interdependence of our world

Thank you to friends around the 🌍 for #StPatricksDay greetings

#GlobalIreland 🇮🇪

Link to full video-> https://t.co/3gaWTbygkw pic.twitter.com/KakXRRDoz4

— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) March 17, 2021

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared the video on their own Twitter page this morning.

Prince William said: “We were so thrilled to be able to visit Ireland just over a year ago, a few short weeks before all of our lives were turned upside down by the pandemic. We know that for Irish people all around the world today won’t be the same as normal, but we hope you can celebrate safely in any case.”

The Ministry's video honoring frontline workers, released yesterday, is also well worth a watch.

Happy #StPatricksDay

To everyone working on the frontline everywhere
To all our friends and family around the world
To everyone missing home
We are thinking of you today#GlobalIrelandhttps://t.co/DkXTBcYfGI pic.twitter.com/Q7r94gQSIV

— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) March 16, 2021

Elsewhere, Irish sketch artist Conor Moore is going viral, as the web applauds his story of Saint Patrick as told by 21 Irish personalities, from Tommy Tiernan to Micahel Martin. 

The story of aul St Patrick ☘️ As told by by 21 “Irish” personalities 🤔 HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/t5ddS90kxa

— Conor Moore (@ConorSketches) March 17, 2021

People are getting ready for virtual parades throughout the country, as areas like Kilkenny and Waterford ask residents to take part in the fun by posting videos of themselves in their gardens. 

This Bandon woman had her two dogs ready early this morning for the Cork celebrations.

Cara and Chip are up early in Bandon #Cork in a full dress rehearsals for the #RTÉVirtualParade and we are enjoying every second of that dog costume 🇮🇪 🐶

Thanks for sharing @ainebcrowley, nice hat 😉 ☘️#RTÉVirtualParade part of @stpatricksfest #SPF2021 pic.twitter.com/pRL8CG1EKP

— RTÉ (@rte) March 17, 2021

 

This Cork family is also creating their own mini parade from their home in Aherla.

#StPatricksDay family parade with @Peterhynes15 on their farm #aherla #cork @irishexaminer @echolivecork #ireland #stpatrick #StPatricksDay2021 pic.twitter.com/0KkSm4sw9S

— Dan Linehan (@lensdan) March 17, 2021

Two cities are also celebrating the day by looking over old parade footage, from Dublin City Council's Twitter page to the Irish Examiner’s coverage of Cork city parades past. 

Tourism Ireland is gearing up to unveil their Orchestra of Light event with Dublin City Council, where 500 drones will light up the skies in celebration later tonight. The short film will air tonight at 9:30pm on Oireachtas TV and can also be found online afterwards on www.stpatricksfestival.ie and on www.rte.ie/culture.

The Irish Defence Forces is also marking the day, releasing a video online featuring a compilation 'St Patrick's Day March' video with musicians from all three army bands and pipers.

As part of our #StPatricksDay celebrations the @DFSMIreland complied a 'St Patrick's Day March' video featuring musicians from all 3 Army bands & pipers from DFSM HQ Coy.

Arrangement: Lt Col (Rtd) Brendan Power
Audio: Capt Thomas Kelly
Video: BM Mark Nutley pic.twitter.com/7FS6s8rqzC

— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) March 17, 2021

President Higgins delivered his St Patrick’s Day message this morning, saying that in the future when “we parade again and gather in celebration ... we will recall how we made Saint Patrick's Day 2021 the beginning of a new journey, one we are happy to share with the whole world and all of its people". 

The speech can be viewed on Twitter.

Watch, listen to, or read the special message from President Michael D. Higgins to “all those who form part of the Irish family, and its friends in the families of the world,” for #StPatricksDay2021:https://t.co/ZBqfTu3ML6 pic.twitter.com/koco7mZJwT

— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) March 17, 2021

Meanwhile, in the world of Tiktok, hundreds are dancing it out to The Irish Rover by The Pogues, including the Gardiner Brothers, the Galway Irish dancing duo who have over 544k followers. Watch here.

Over on Youtube, you can watch some phenomenal videos of the greening of landmarks that have been going on all week, including this Waterford filmmaker's beautiful drone footage.

Or, take a look at this “Stay-at-home” Samba by the Cork School of Music. 

A four-year-old girl from Cork is also making headlines today, with her rendition of Danny Boy. Little Emma Sophia can be seen singing her heart out, dressed in an Aran jumper, around the Kinsale coastline in the video created by her father. It already has nearly 200k views online.

Cork City Council is also applauding the county’s greenings efforts online.

🇮🇪Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh go léir

☘Wishing you and your family a very Happy & Safe St. Patrick's Day!

💚 Over 40 iconic building have gone green for #StPatricksDay - don't forget to share your pics & use #CorkGoesGreen pic.twitter.com/9FxXGqMelj

— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) March 17, 2021

The internet is sure to be hopping after RTÉ One's A St Patrick's Festival Celebration, hosted by Baz Ashmawy, airs at 6:30pm tonight. Also sure to trend: Michéal Martin's meeting with US president Joe Biden later today.

Also happening across the pond as we speak are celebrations following the New York City parade, where the city's Mayor de Blasio made a surprise appearance. You can watch the coverage live on Facebook.

In Chicago, celebrations will begin around 7pm Irish time, as the Irish abroad already begin to gather around the bright green Chicago River. 

Pop sensation and Mullingar native Niall Horan is apparently being celebrated more today than on his own birthday, while fans wish his fellow Irish musician Hozier a happy birthday online.

Love how I’ve had more texts today than I got on my birthday 🤣. ☘️🇮🇪

— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) March 17, 2021

Dustin the Turkey has just joined Jenny Greene over on RTÉ 2fm for a St Patrick's Day themed show sure to be full of laughs.

Elsewhere, restaurants are turning their offerings green, including a Cobh restaurant that is dishing up green battered sausages and onion rings for takeaway.

You can also take a listen to Danny O'Reilly's cover of A Song for Ireland here.

For the day that’s in it. The most relevant verse of this absolute tune. Song For Ireland.
Happy Paddy’s Day! #wemisspubs #whereisdinglebeach pic.twitter.com/QIZpEEOet3

— The Coronas (@TheCoronas) March 17, 2021

Dance challenge videos are also heating up, with GAA clubs and other organisations posting St Patrick's Day-themed dance videos online.

As the day came to a close, many celebrated by watching the phenomenal Orchestra of Lights performance, finishing off the day by watching the television coverage of all the world had offered for Saint Patrick's Day 2021.