Australia was another penal colony during the early 1800s. Some of those felons were indentured slaves, these were immigrants that bartered their trip with a guarantee to work for a certain length of time. Others were criminals who had to spend years of hard labour working there.

Once upon a time it was a disgrace to be considered a relation of a deportee that had ended up in Australia, nowadays there are those that consider it as a badge of honour. Songs of the ‘Wild Colonial Boy’ and films about ‘Ned Kelly’ are sung to rapturous applause. Watch the all-day celebrations, ‘Down Under, Matey’. 

The largest parade is in Dublin City with a four-day festival for the occasion. Parades in every city, town, and village, marching bands, from all over Europe, North America and Canada, sporting events such as rugby, football, hurling, horse racing, and athletics. 

Saint Patrick arrived in Ireland in 432, introducing Christianity to a pagan race of people. Patrick had come from what is now Wales in the United Kingdom. The Roman Empire had spread to England and Wales in the first century. With the Romans came learning, we know that Patrick had a certain ability to read and write, so he started to preach Christianity. Very shortly he had a number of followers. Through his teachings and the establishment of a church in Saul, Co. Down, Ireland was to become recognized as the birthplace of Christianity in western Europe.

For Saint Patrick’s day join in the celebrations, wherever you may be, with music, songs, dancing, storytelling and parades. Let the woes of the world, the financial strains or worries of living, the turmoil and uncertainty of tomorrow be eliminated from our minds for this day. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to you all.