By now, it’s unlikely that you’ve never heard of or experienced St Patricks Day. Each March 17th, his death is celebrated with huge celebrations worldwide as a hero of Ireland.
With Melbourne never missing out on an opportunity like this, the city gets decked out in green and partakes in a variety of memorable activities. How can you get involved in Melbourne’s Saint Patrick’s Day festivities?
The method behind Saint Patrick’s Day madness
During the fifth century, Saint Patrick was Ireland’s patron saint and apostle. He had no idea that his name would one day become synonymous with beer, parties, music, and everything green. When he was sixteen years old, he was kidnapped from his birthplace – Roman Britain – and brought to Ireland as a slave.
Patrick, however, was made of stronger stuff. After escaping, he returned later with the gift of Christianity, which he is credited with bringing to Ireland. Using the shamrock, he explained the Holy Trinity to the people.
Upon his death on March 17, 461 (as far as we know), he became an integral part of Irish culture. Considering how much the Irish love to celebrate, it’s easy to understand how Saint Patrick’s Day has evolved into what it is now: festivals, parades, music and dancing, foods, and of course the abundance of beer and liquor. This happens against a background of beautiful green, representing Ireland. It is simply impossible to be seen if you are not green.
All things Irish in Melbourne
Although we can’t prove it, it seems that Melbourne loves the party just as much as Dublin does! In Melbourne, Saint Patrick’s Day isn’t just about green beer and hats. To celebrate this special day in this city, we’re planning to take a comprehensive look at everything you can do.
Even though pubs and bars are an important part of Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, let’s look at some other options first:
Hold an Irish sports day
How about playing some Gaelic games? Australians have been playing Gaelic Football, Hurling, and Camogie for decades. In Melbourne, Irish immigrants and backpackers love them because they keep up the tradition.
The game of gaelic footy is played by two teams of fifteen players each. In this game, the goal is to kick or punch the ball into the opposing team’s goal. What about a game of Gaelic football in Irish fancy dress with your friends? Here are some ideas…
Hurling isn’t about purging your beery excesses after St. Patrick’s Day parties. The fastest field sport in the world, hurling has been around for 3000 years. It’s like Gaelic football, except you use a wooden stick to volley the sliotar (a little ball) between the other team’s goalposts. The game is pretty full-on, with lots of body contact… similar to rugby.
Alternatively, ladies can play camogie… it’s basically hurling for women! Contact the Gaelic Football & Hurling Association of Australasia if you’re looking for events, ideas, or equipment.
Visit the Immigration Museum
Immerse yourself in Irish history with a visit to the immigration museum. Get a full understanding of how Irish immigration shaped the Australian nation as we know it.
Get a glimpse into the lives of thousands of Irish immigrants who escaped the potato famine in the 1800s. A perilous voyage led them to Victoria. Performances are also held on special days, such as Irish dancing for children.
The museum can assist you in researching your own family history if you wish. Is it possible that you have Irish roots after all?
Melbourne Irish Festival
Melbourne Irish Festival is a fun affair for families, friends and whoever else wants to have fun! It actually starts on 26th March – from midday until 5pm, in Edinburgh Gardens, North Fitzroy. It’s all about celebrating culture and heritage; it aims to have a true community vibe.
There’s a lot of live music, the mandatory Irish dancing, and plenty of kids activities… there will be races, sports, face painting, stilt walking, and other fun things for them to do. No need to worry about it being a rowdy and boozy affair, this one is more about wholesome community fun.
Or for even more music why not visit the Melbourne Celtic Festival on March 17th.
Get your Clan together to enjoy a stellar line-up of Celtic musicians across 3 indoor stages in this community event that promises the best Craic in town on St Paddy’s Day
Dress up in Irish costumes
It’s hard to miss the chance to wear your green clobber and dance the night away on March 17th. If you venture out without green, fellow revelers are welcome to pinch you deeply! If you don’t want to be pampered, it’s probably smarter to conform!
The question is, what should you wear? This sexy Irish girl costume is perfect for ladies who want to opt for a sexy look. With its short white frilly sleeves, fitted bodice, and shiny green skirt, this costume is sure to make you a head turner in a crowd of all-green costumes. Well… we can’t be held responsible when paired with saucy white knee-high socks and a red wig!
For the day, both men and women can transform into leprechauns… or into Irish pints! You can accessorize so easily for Saint Patrick’s Day as well. You can choose from a range of green hats: think top hats, miniature leprechaun hats, Irish cowboy hats… and then there are green wigs, necklaces, stripy green and white stockings; you can also wear bow ties, shamrock glasses, braces and more. Make sure you are seen as green in everything you do!
Let’s move on to the parties, pubs, and general revelry:
Saint Patrick’s Day in Melbourne’s Pubs
There are so many Irish pubs and Saint Patrick’s Day events in Melbourne… it would be impossible to list them all here; but here are a few favourites you can choose from:
Bridie O’Reillys
A little bit of Ireland right here in the heart of Chapel Street, Bridie O’Reilly is a hub for good times and decent beers. It’s serving a full Irish breakfast with a side of Guinness on St Pat’s from 10am, but if you’ve had one too many pints you’ll want to order a plate of cheesy chips slathered in melty cheese and Irish curry sauce. There will be food specials all day like Irish curry, Irish stew, sausages and roast pork running alongside its classic pub menu. Entry is free, and there will be live music running all day.
The Last Jar
The Last Jar is dedicating five whole days to Saint Patrick’s Day revelry. You can expect a full range of entertainment leading up to the big day. On the 16th and 17th March there will be music sessions and the usual Irish drinks on offer.
On the big day, get there early for an 8 am breakfast if you’re dedicated. Music kicks off around lunchtime, and there will be Guinness, Kilkenny and Magners on tap. If you can bring yourself to go back there again the next day, you’ll be offered a recovery breakfast.
PJ O’Brien’s
The goal of PJ O’Brien’s is to give you a superior yet classic Saint Patrick’s Day experience. If you want an Irish breakfast and a pint of Guinness, get there by 8am. From 10am onwards, you can join in the fun and festivities. Face painting, Irish dancing, pipers, and more will be available. Take advantage of the Irish bevvies all day and all night long!
The Quiet Man
Partygoers will have a great time with these guys on St. Patrick’s Day. The Quiet Man is renowned for its Saint Patrick’s Day street parties – keep an eye out for friendly revelers and their shenanigans.
Become a connoisseur of Irish whiskey and beer
Why not make it a sophisticated affair? At least until the effects of these potent Irish beverages become apparent. A whiskey or beer tasting is a great way to spend Saint Patrick’s Day.
Instead of celebrating St Paddy’s Day, Buck Mulligans likes to celebrate St Paddy’s month. The festivities will kick off on Wednesday, March 9 with a day of stories around the theme ‘proud’. On St Paddy’s Day itself, Buck’s will have a pop-up whiskey and Guinness bar in the courtyard and live music from 3pm. The venue will be open from 1pm. And on Thursday, March 24, Buck’s will host its first whiskey masterclass of the year, showcasing the best in new Irish single malts. Learn more here
Tired of Killkennys and Guinness Beef Pies to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Head over to Meat Market for some Irish whiskey instead. Start the evening of exceptional food and drinks with a cocktail of Jameson Collins on arrival. Then sit down to a 4-course meal matched with 2 of Jameson’s newest additions from the “whiskey master series”. The 4 whiskeys include the Glenlivet Founders Reserve, Jameson Caskmate, Jameson Black Barrell and Aberlour Abundah. Simply visit the website or contact the restaurant to reserve your table.
Boilermakers?
Get a belter of an Irish beer experience by downing a boilermaker. What is a boilermaker? Well, it’s a whisky and a beer! Your first drink will be whiskey, and your second drink will be beer. If that appeals, you’ll want to make your way down to Stomping Ground. Additionally, you’ll receive a limited edition Coffee Stout and small batch Irish whiskey pairing. Don’t expect to remain remotely sober!
So as you can see, Melbourne offers many opportunities to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. No matter what you choose, you can’t help but have a good time with all those upbeat Irish vibes in the air. Have a great time!
Meet Dale Pruser, our fabulous blogger who lives and breathes costumes! With boundless enthusiasm and a knack for turning heads, she’s the perfect guide to unleash your inner alter ego. Dale’s 30+ years experience in the costume and cosplay industry, make her the go-to source for finding the perfect costume. Her passion and knowledge shine through her blog posts, where she shares helpful tips on finding the perfect costume, DIY hacks to make your outfit stand out, and even delves into the fascinating history behind some of the most iconic characters. Her writing is as vibrant and colorful as the costumes she adores. With a twinkle in her eye and a wardrobe bursting with creativity, Dale dives headfirst into the realm of costumes. She lives for those magical moments when you put on a costume and become someone entirely different—whether it’s a mighty superhero, a swashbuckling pirate, or a glamorous 1920s flapper.