St Pat’s celebrations - Let’s ensure all eyes are smiling on us

The one day that people all over the globe associate with Ireland is St Patrick’s Day. The British may have had the largest Empire, but there is no similar day associated with them.

The nearest to a parallel would be Bastille Day for the French, or the Fourth of July for the Americans.

The Irish have not always distinguished themselves on this day in other parts of the world.

The day became notorious for brawls from Boston to Brisbane. In a sense it was a day for the Irish abroad to think of home and in the process they became homesick and drowned their sorrows, allowing drink to get the better of them.

There has been a growing tendency to ape our brethren abroad with undignified spectacles developing around some of the St Patrick’s Day parades.

In their recent Lenten pastoral the Catholic bishops encouraged people to refrain from, or least cut down on their use of alcohol by one third to a half during the weeks of Lent.

This message should apply particularly to today.

Despite the announcements of factory curtailments and closures in recent days, we still have much for which we can be truly thankful.

It is one of the few times in almost two centuries that young Irish people have not been compelled by circumstances to go abroad in search of work.

The bishops have called for our national saint’s day to be celebrated in a dignified manner.

As people abroad look to Ireland, it affords us an opportunity to showcase what is best about being Irish.

We expect our leaders, who are scattered about the world this weekend, to put their best foot forward.

Hopefully in highlighting the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States, the Taoiseach will be able to help those who had to leave Ireland in search of a living during difficult times that were not so long ago.

Of course, there are also many people who will be looking at us closely — not the usual visitors from abroad, but the many thousands of immigrants who come here in search of a living.

We should show them that we can celebrate in a dignified, happy way, without excessive alcohol.

We should also be particularly mindful that the man we are celebrating, St Patrick, was himself an immigrant who was brought to this country, assimilated here, and left us with a treasured legacy.

The televising of the all-Ireland club finals in hurling and football in Croke Park provide a magnificent competitive sporting occasion at the basic club level for all to watch.

The teams come from the four provinces.

It would also be particularly fitting if the all-Ireland rugby team — having already captured the triple crown — could cap its season by winning its first Six Nations Championship in Rome on this St. Patrick’s Day.