Surviving St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin

If you happened to watch my Instagram story this weekend, then you know I mean it when I say “surviving” Saint Patrick’s Day. And if you missed the story, don’t worry, the highlights are saved on my account for your entertainment…

Saint Patrick’s Day in Dublin was both a marathon AND a sprint. Like when I used to run the 800m race in high school track. We needed both speed and endurance to make it through a 14 hour (?) day of festivities while keeping up with the Guinness consumption of those around us. Moral of the story, I’m proud I made it out alive, if a little worse for the wear.

Spending this holiday in Dublin has been my dream for a while now, so while living in Spain I felt like I had no choice but to take advantage of my proximity and head over to Ireland last weekend… along with all the other Americans in Europe.

While the past four days were probably the best of my life, we did NOT do things perfectly. Thankfully, the luck of the Irish was on our side and we made it through, but here are some Do’s and Don’ts to make sure you too live through Saint Patrick’s day in one piece.

DO bring green. Save your $$ for last minute accessories like green and orange facepaint, or an “Irish Drinking Team” hat (the essentials) and buy your outfit before Dublin. I made the mistake of waiting until arriving to think of my apparel and spent money that could have gotten me approximately 4 more (unnecessary) pints of Guinness.

DON’T forget to dress warm. I left my winter coat in Spain, thinking I wouldn’t need it as I traveled to northern Europe… I was wrong. Surprisingly March in Dublin is not tropical, and it may even snow. Even if the forecast looks warm, come prepared and avoid relying on a heavy alcohol blanket for warmth.

DO book EARLY. We were so proud about booking our flights in October that we forgot to book accommodation… until February. Had we booked more in advance we could have saved hundreds of dollars. Instead, we spent about $400 and booked Busabout’s “St. Pat’s Party” tour. Thankfully, it was worth it, but again, think of how much Guinness the savings could buy you.

DON’T order Irish Carbombs. They’re not Irish, they’re American. Also, think about it, that name is terrible and probably super offensive in Ireland. Best case you get a confused look from a bartender, worst case they kick you out… I’d stick to Irish Coffee if I were you.

DO drink all the Guinness and Jameson you can get your hands on. With some Bailey’s for good measure. Okay, the drinks are free-flowing during the parties, so it’s best to know your limits, but if there is a time and a place to enjoy some Irish beverages it is now.

Other Tips: 

Be ready for a crowd. This is probably the busiest weekend of the year, so be ready to wait. Buy the skip the line ticket if you plan to do any sightseeing (Guiness Storehouse anyone?) and make reservations for any sit down meals you plan to have.

Try the Irish food. I could write a whole post solely about bangers and mash. Irish food is better than expected, and I’ve never needed mashed potatoes more than the day after Saint Patrick’s.

Stay at Four Court’s Hostel or Abbey Court! Four Courts was the Shamrocker’s HQ for the tour, and was a super fun choice. Then, after leaving there on the 18th with no flight until the 19th, we realized we couldn’t make it to Monday without a nap. Thankfully Abbey Court had rooms available to save the day, I really don’t think you can go wrong with either option.

Overall, this weekend was perfect. Dublin is my favorite city, and spending my favorite holiday there was even more magical. Despite being cold, tired, and slightly hungover for much of the weekend, our time there exceeded ALL of my expectations.