Amidst all the social distancing, panic buying and self-isolation, there’s a good chance you’ve completely missed the fact that today is St Patrick’s Day.
Sadly, many St. Patrick’s Day Parades around the world have been cancelled due to COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate Ireland and the Irish from the confines of our coronavirus-free homes. Listen below:
Here’s how you can party like the Irish while you’re isolated:
Wet Your Whistle
While we are by no means suggesting you spend your 14-day quarantine binge drinking, today is the perfect day to get stuck into a good old fashioned Guinness, an Irish whisky or even one of those questionable-looking green beers. It might not be totally safe to throw back a bevvy or two at the local Irish pub right now, but no one said anything about indulging in a few from the comfort of your own home.
Cook Up An Irish Storm
Did you know that corned beef and cabbage – a staple meal of St Patrick’s Day – was actually an American innovation? According to NBC, beef was considered a luxury in Ireland in the 19th century, however when the Irish started immigrating to America, it was readily available and far more affordable. Like beef, cabbage was cheap and plentiful and therefore became the ideal side dish. If beef and cabbage isn’t your thing, why not attempt an Irish stew, soda bread, or boxty, an Irish potato pancake.
Watch An Irish Flick
St Patrick’s Day is the perfect day to Netflix and chill with an Irish-themed film. Some top picks include the 2015 love story Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan, the 2008 drama Hunger with Michael Fassbender, the ultimate romantic film P.S. I Love You starring Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank, or for the music-lovers, 1991’s The Commitments.
Celebrate All Your Irish Faves
There’s a good chance some of your favourite celebrities are of Irish descent, making today the perfect opportunity to celebrate them. Some of Ireland’s most talented exports include Niall Horan, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, Michael Fassbender, Saoirse Ronan, Sinead O’Connor, U2, Enya and many, many more.