St Patrick's Day is bigger in Perth than back in Ireland, according to the manager of Perth pub JB O'Reilly's, which last year sold more Guinness than any other Australian venue.
"There are a lot of Irish out here, and we think it's a bigger celebration here than it is at home," JB O'Reilly's manager Claire Wynne said.
All throughout Perth city, Irish Pubs are expecting people in their hundred to start the celebrations from Midday. Many of the pubs in Perth will host a full Irish breakfast starting from 7 am. A traditional Irish breakfast is a large cooked breakfast of meat (bacon, sausages and black and white puddings), eggs, vegetables and potato all fried in creamery butter. It is served with a generous helping of homemade Irish soda or brown bread for soakage and washed down with a strong cup of breakfast tea such as Barry or Lyons tea (depending where you are) and a glass of orange juice. A strong start to the celebrations!
St Patrick’s Day is an important cultural and religious day in Ireland as it honours the patron saint of Ireland. St Patrick died on the 17 March, hence the selected day. The focus on the party is a relatively new occurrence as up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. However in the mid 1990s the Irish government decided the holiday would be a good way to promote the country to the world. People of all nationalities are set to adopt the luck of the Irish for the day.
If you want to join in on the Irish tradition there are many events on in Perth. There is a St Patrick’s Festival WA which starts in Northbridge and ends in Leederville. The parade takes place from 10-11:30am and the family celebrations start from 11:30 am and end at 5pm. Other venues in Perth celebrating the day include Paddy Hannan’s, Paddy Maguires, Fibber McGee’s, Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub, Rosie O’Grady’s Irish Pub and JB O’Reilly’s.
So join in on the day, watch some Irish dancing and have a drink or too!