Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Without a Hangover

St. Patrick’s Day falls on Sunday this year and you’ll probably want to celebrate, but maybe this year you don’t want to get so drunk up you can’t remember how you got home. Luckily, you can still enjoy St P’s without ending up face down in a parking lot with pebble marks in your forehead. For those of you whose only celebration is a bottle of whiskey or a lot of beer, you don’t need our help to put that together.  But for everyone else, here are a few ways to celebrate all things Irish without resorting to green bagels, Shamrock Shakes and drinking yourself stupid.

12. Listen to Some Irish Music.

Last year we posted a list of “Irish Bands You Probably Haven’t Heard Of” like the Undertones, Alloy Mental, and Rory Gallagher. Go back and listen again, or listen for the first time.  Or you can always stick with The Dubliners, The Pogues, The Chieftans, The Dropkick Murphys and U2.

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11. Watch “The Guard”.  

Or re-watch it if you’ve already seen it.  This 2011 independent film is the directorial debut of screenwriter John Michael McDonagh, has amazing performances by  Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle and Liam Cunningham. It’s a buddy cop movie unlike anything Hollywood’s been putting out.   It’s charming, it’s crass and it’s really really funny.  It’s also the most successful independent Irish film of all time and was nominated for a slew of awards including a Golden Globe.  Filmed in Connemara, Leitir Móir, Leitir Mealláin (Lettermullen), An Spidéal and Bearna.

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10. Go to Chicago and See the River Turn Green.

Chicago goes all in for St. Patrick’s day, including turning the river emerald green for the big parade. This year, it’s scheduled for 10:00am, Saturday March 16th and can be best viewed from the East side of the bridge at Columbus Drive or upper and lower Wacker Drive between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive.  It’s actually pretty cool, the dye actually looks orange, and initially turns the river a bright orange before settling into the perfect emerald green for St Patricks Day.

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9.  Go See Great Live Irish Bands.

Check out whoever is playing locally for you or go large by seeing The Dropkick Murphys live in Boston at the House of Blues  at 6pm, or Flogging Molly in Tempe Arizona at Tempe Beach Park starting at 1pm.

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8. Bake Irish Soda Bread.

It’s easier than you think.  It doesn’t require any special equipment, and there isn’t a lot of kneading and rising to worry about, so  when it comes out of the oven you’ll be the St. Patrick’s day hero in your house. Eat it with corned beef and cabbage and lots of potatoes, (even though some say the corned beef and cabbage celebration actually started in New York, not Ireland).  Get recipes from cooksillustrated.com or food.com.

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7. Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.

Any reason is a good reason to visit New York’s most impressive cathedral and attend a mass.

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6. Watch Waking Ned Devine.

Another great film that will make you wish you were visiting Ireland– Waking Ned Devine centers on a small village that learns that one of its members has won the state lottery of nearly 70 million pounds.  The word charming isn’t charming enough for this film, which will make you smile through and through.  Great performances throughout and beautiful scenery from start to finish.  Waking Ned Devine was shot on the Isle of Man, with the village of Cregneash.

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5. Plan a Trip to Ireland.

You won’t have time to get there by Sunday, but you can spend Sunday planning your trip. What could be more celebratory than that?  Even if you can’t afford to go, just plan your trip.  You can read all about the picturesque villages, small local pubs, spectacular cliffs, majestic castles and breathtaking drives.  You’ll feel like you’ve been there.  Almost.

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4.  Watch Barry Lyndon.