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Berlin Celebrates St Patrick’s Day

Irish parties, parades and concerts take place all over Berlin in celebration of Ireland’s Patron Saint day

March 16th, 2015
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This weekend saw traditional Irish celebrations take over cities across Germany and Europe. The Irish culture is well-loved and extremely popular all over the world, and Berlin is no exception to the rule. Germans have long embraced Irish traditions, and the celebrations that took place over St Patrick’s Day weekend are a perfect example of the harmonious relationship between Berlin and its Irish population. Tourists, citizens and authorities alike came together to observe the annual event, which included everything ranging from sport competitions and music recitals to themed pub nights and, true to practice, the parade. 

Saturday afternoon saw the beginning of the celebrations. The parade, which always departs from Oranienplatz in Kreuzberg at 14:00, set off with its dancers, musicians and hundreds of people in costume, through the streets of Berlin, braving a cold but sunny spring afternoon. Led by the bagpipe players and followed up by the Irish Beats Dance Company, who have served the people of Berlin on Ireland’s national festival day for several years now, the parade attracted hundreds of participants and many more spectators. While the streets were a hive of activity, Berlin’s various Irish pubs heaved with guests, and outdoor stalls and mobile bars saw the traditional Guinness beer consumed by the gallon.  

In addition to the traditional food, drink and music celebrations, the Irish Embassy in Berlin organised events celebrating Ireland and its people and their successes. The RTÉ team hosted Ireland’s Brightest Stars, an event which celebrated the newest and most promising Irish individuals in the fields of sport, film, fashion, literature and music. Bertram Allen, a rising Irish jockey, represented Ireland’s widely successful sportsman, while Danielle Romeril had an opportunity to share her latest fashion line with the public.

In literature, the event celebrated new young talent Rob Doyle and his recent debut novel, ‘Here Are The Young Men’, and in TV, India Mullen, a Dubliner recently graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting was heralded one of the most promising TV talents of Ireland today. Finally, film and music were also part of the event, with guests Moe Dunford (a Dungarvan we can expect to see a lot more of over the coming months), and Staring at Lakes (a prominent, young, Irish band) making an appearance. The Irish Embassy here in Berlin is also arranging an event celebrating popular Irish sport “hurling”, hosted by Sport Club Setante in Steglitz, which will take place on March 21st 2015 – more information about this is available from the Embassy’s webpage.

Once again, Ireland’s national holiday has been embraced and enjoyed throughout Berlin, and serves to demonstrate harmonious exchange of cultural traditions and events. 

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References and Links

News from Berlin
Berlin Global