The Irish Celebrating is a collection of essays which focuses on the complex dynamics of celebrating, its significance and its scope, through Ireland’s past and present experience. This book studies the dual aspects of celebrating —‘the festive’ and ‘the tragic’— which, while not necessarily functioning as a binary opposition, have long proved mutually constitutive of the Irish experience. Many different occasions and ways of celebrating are explored, be they associated with feasts, festivals, commemorations, re-enactments or mere merry-making. Irish literature abounds with motifs, symbols, allusions and devices that stand as ample testimony to the essential part played by celebration in the creative process. Both the treatment of mythical themes and figures, and the perception of contrasted realities and moods, all linked in some way or another with celebrating, are examined in the works of Irish novelists, poets and playwrights. If celebrations undeniably had a crucial role to play throughout Ireland’s troubled past, they continue to shape Irish society today, part and parcel of the deep social, economic and cultural changes it is currently experiencing. New representations of Irish identity as they are expressed through new forms of celebrating are explored in such varied contexts as emigration and immigration, alcohol addiction, church allegiance and European membership. The way the nationalist and unionist communities have been celebrating their past in Northern Ireland, often complacently and ostentatiously, is a theme dealt with in the final section of this collection. Irish, English, French, Spanish, Italian and American scholars apply a broad range of interdisciplinary expertise to original and illuminating essays which will undoubtedly provoke a new insight into the interplay between current trends and issues and the long-established patterns that thread through the volume.

March 17 is St Patrick's Day -- a day to wear green and a special celebration of St Patrick and all things Irish.

Do you know what a Brideóg is? What could you cure if you licked a lizard nine times? Why is Whit Sunday the unluckiest day of the year? From the author of The Irish Cottage comes a new book, exploring old Irish customs and beliefs. Chapters focus on the quarter-day festivities that marked the commencement of each season: ‘Spring: Imbolc’; ‘Summer: Bealtaine’; ‘Autumn: Lughnasa’ and ‘Winter: Samhain’, and also major life events – ‘Births, Marriages and Death Customs’ – and general beliefs in ‘Spirituality and Well-Being’ and ‘The Supernatural’. Focusing on the period from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, Irish Customs and Rituals discusses a time during which many of the practices and beliefs in question went into decline. Many of these customs were rooted in residual pre-Christian beliefs that ran parallel to, and in spite of, conventional religion practised in the country. Some customs were so deep-rooted that despite continued disapproval from the Roman Catholic Church they remain with us today. It is wonderful to see so many traditions still with us, as many are worthwhile remembering, commemorating, or even reviving today. Irish Customs and Rituals will appeal to all those with an interest in Irish history, folklore, culture and social history. Marion McGarry is the author of The Irish Cottage: History, Culture and Design (2017). She has a PhD in Architectural History and an MA in History of Art and Design and is currently a lecturer at Galway–Mayo Institute of Technology. She frequently writes articles about Irish social history and customs.

Potted history, quirky facts, sayings, hints and tips about Ireland's celebration and the saint it commemorates. The Little Book of St Patrick's Day will tell the story of St Patrick and how the holiday began, share the craic with a collection of sayings and describe how the festival is marked around the world (and in outer space). Separate the myths from the facts, find out how to celebrate at home and be dazzled by quirky facts and stats. Why is the shamrock the symbol of the day, did St Patrick really drive snakes out of Ireland and what should you eat and drink on March 17th? Find out in this pocket-sized guide to this Irish celebration that has enchanted people of all backgrounds across the globe. 'For the whole world is Irish on the Seventeenth o' March!' The Irish-American poet Thomas Augustine Daly, as seen on Bustle.com On St Patrick's Day 2011, the Irish-American astronaut Catherine Coleman played a 100-year-old flute belonging to the Irish band The Chieftains, while floating weightless in the space station. Her performance was later included in a track called The Chieftains in Orbit.

Michael Scott's Áras Mhic Dhiarmada and BusÁras is one of the most important modernist buildings in Ireland. Built between 1947 and 1953, it was intended to be a bus station like no other, providing ordinary working people with a range of amenities including a roof-top restaurant, incredible panoramic views of Dublin, a crèche, and a 24-hour newsreel cinema. It was to be a microcosm of the city, providing dignity, comfort, and convenience to bus users. From its inception the project was gripped in controversy. Construction ground to a halt for three years as Government and opposition argued over the merits and uses of the building. In the end it became home to the Department of Social Protection and Bus Éireann's provincial bus services. Despite receiving widespread acclaim for its architectural and design innovations, today it is a much maligned and misunderstood building. In this exciting collaboration, writer Eoin Ó Broin and photographer Mal McCann explore the vision behind ÁrÁras Mhic Dhiarmada and BusÁras, and celebrate the energy, creativity, and neglect of this incredible example of Irish modernist architecture and design.

Are you ready to dive into the vibrant world of St. Patrick's Day? Explore the rich tapestry of traditions, from colorful parades showcasing Irish pride to the iconic symbolism of shamrocks and leprechauns. Uncover the deep-rooted religious significance of this beloved holiday, and unravel the myths and legends that have woven themselves into the fabric of St. Patrick's Day celebrations. But it's not all fun and games - delve into the controversies surrounding commercialization and cultural appropriation, and discover how communities are striving to preserve the authenticity of this cherished holiday while embracing modernity. From the bustling streets of Dublin to the bustling timelines of social media, witness how St. Patrick's Day has evolved in the digital age, and explore the environmental considerations that shape the future of this global celebration. With insights from historians, cultural experts, and everyday revelers, this book offers a comprehensive and captivating exploration of St. Patrick's Day like never before. So grab your green attire and join us on a journey through the Emerald Isle and beyond, as we uncover the magic and mystery of St. Patrick's Day - a celebration of culture, community, and camaraderie.

A blockbuster collection from one of Ireland’s most exciting young voices: “Sharp and lively . . . a rough, charged, and surprisingly fun read” (Interview). A National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Honoree * Winner of the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award * Winner of the Guardian First Book Award * Winner of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature Enter the small, rural town of Glanbeigh, a place whose fate took a downturn with the Celtic Tiger, a desolate spot where buffoonery and tension simmer and erupt, and booze-sodden boredom fills the corners of every pub and nightclub. Here, and in the towns beyond, the young live hard and wear the scars. Amongst them, there’s jilted Jimmy, whose best friend Tug is the terror of the town and Jimmy’s sole company in his search for the missing Clancy kid; Bat, a lovesick soul with a face like “a bowl of mashed up spuds” even before Nubbin Tansey’s boot kicked it in; and Arm, a young and desperate criminal whose destiny is shaped when he and his partner, Dympna, fail to carry out a job. In each story, a local voice delineates the grittiness of post boom Irish society. These are unforgettable characters rendered through silence, humor, and violence. “Lyrical and tough and smart . . . What seems to be about sorrow and foreboding turns into an adventure, instead, in the tender art of the unexpected.” —Anne Enright, Man Booker Prize Award–winning author “Sometimes comic, sometimes melancholy, Young Skins touches the heart, as well as the mind.” —Irish American Post