Top o' the Weekend!

It’s that time of year again: St. Patrick’s Day! The holiday falls on a Monday this year, so most people will be celebrating this weekend, and since I won't be around tomorrow, the wearin' of the green post comes early!

The Irish have been stereotypically known as a drunken, superstitious lot with quick tempers and immense Catholic guilt, and Irish-Americans appear to be the only hyphen group that uses its designated holiday to reinforce these stereotypes rather than dispel them. But, as the Irish contributor to GitW (and, ironically, the non-ginger) I’m taking it upon myself to give you tips on a more authentic St. Paddy’s Day celebration.

Remember: Every time you drink green Bud Light, Oliver Cromwell kills a leprechaun.

Music
Music is key to a good St. Patrick’s Day celebration. And no, you don’t have to listen to Danny Boy:

The Pogues – They’re known as an “Irish-punk” band, but I hear way more Irish than punk. Of course, lead singer/dental nightmare Shane MacGowan was photographed by a London newspaper when he was teenager getting bit in the face at Clash concert, so I guess that scores him permanent rawk points. Their album Rum, Sodomy and The Lash is a classic.

Flogging Molly – Often derided as gimmicky or a poor man’s Pogues, this band actually rocks way harder than the former, and I think has some pretty great songs.

The Chieftains – Traditional Irish music, but really good traditional Irish music, not just lame accordions and bagpipes. They’ve done some great collaboration with the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Sting and others.

Movies
If you feel like watching a movie on St. Patrick’s Day, here’s a few of my Irish favs:

The Commitments – One of my favorite lines: “The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once, say it loud - I'm black and I'm proud!”

Intermission – Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy before anyone knew who they were. It gets a little sentimental at the end, but still worth it.

Waking Ned Divine –It’ll make you want to raise a Guinness in toast. Actually, all of these will make you want to raise a Guinness.

Beer
Beer is essential for any Irish celebration, but its got to be the right beer. The best are:

Guinness – Natch.
Smithwicks – Pronounced “smith-icks,” this used to be hard to find in the US but now Guinness is importing it.
Killian’s Irish Red – They don’t actually have this in Ireland, but we have it here, and its grand.
Harp – If you must drink a yellow beer, make it this one.

I’d suggest food, but “authentic” Irish food is basically anything that’s had the flavor boiled out of it. The culinary arts have largely evaded the emerald isle. So make whatever you want.

Erin go Bragh!