St Patrick’s Day 2012

Joburg is going green this weekend…

South Africans have more in common with the Irish than most people think. It isn’t the lilting accents or ginger coifs, as a visit to Ireland will confirm, but is instead something a little more personal.  In short, we both enjoy beer, the colour green and a friendly approach to the world.  This weekend, you get the chance to celebrate these similarities and to commemorate St Patrick’s Day.

This festival commemorates the bringing of Christianity to Ireland-  apparently.  However, to most of us, non-Irish people, it is simply an excuse to party. 

There is a trick to this: 1) find a party where there actually are Irish people present and 2) to approach the evening as one of pure, unbridled (green) celebration with them.  In this regard,there are fantastic options all over the city. First prize is The Irish Club in Linden, but other bars, clubs and pubs in every corner of the city of gold will be going green this Saturday. Old neighbourhood favourites such as O’Hagan’s, Paddy’s, The Jolly Roger,The Brazen Head and McGinty’s are perfect venues to celebrate the day and others, including Tiger Tiger,  TSG 4Ways, and Montecasino  will be holding their own celebrations.

Even without those ginger curls, singsong greetings and Riverdance party moves, you can still get down in true Irish spirit this weekend.