17 March 2020

How to celebrate St Paddy's day... while social distancing

Missing out on your usual St Patrick's Day celebrations of all things Irish? Never fear! Follow this run-down and celebrate from the comfort of your own home. Self-isolation doesn't have to be the end of everything.

We provide food and drink suggestions, activities, clothing and entertainment ideas to help you on the way to a home-made Paddy's day.

Food and drink

Guinness (not for Under 18s) - No Irish celebration is complete without the trademark dark nectar. Ireland's most iconic beer is the drink of choice for revellers on St Paddy's and can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home in a fully recyclable tin.

Although visits to pubs have been advised against, this beverage can be enjoyed at home (PA Images)

Irish Coffee (not for Under 18s) - Traditionally a mix of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, cream and brown sugar. A delicious wake-up and a perfect post-meal treat.

Irish Coffee is laced with lashings of whiskey (PA Images)

Soda Bread - Nothing says Irish bread, like soda bread. Traditionally made over a fire, but an oven will suffice! Best enjoyed with a hefty slathering of butter and warm bowl of stew.

Irish soda bread is traditionally made over a fire (PA Images)

Irish stew - Usually made with beef or lamb but vegan alternatives could be used. A great way to use up vegetables that are reaching their end date, this stew warms from the inside out. Any food that can be eaten with just a spoon is a winner in our books.

Happiness is a warming bowl of stew (PA Images)

Guinness Cake - Guinness and cake; need we say more?!

Guinness Cake is a perfect afternoon tea (FodMopEveryday)

Activities

Irish dancing - A tradition in Ireland that takes skill and precision. You may not perfect it in just a day, but YouTube is full of tutorials and stunning performances. Be warned - make sure you warm up first and remove all objects from your performance area to avoid injury.

Best to get in some practice before trying more advanced dance moves (PA Images)

Search for four-leaf clovers - Just because you are at home, doesn't mean you can't go in the garden and soak up some vitamin D while searching for the lucky leaves. 

The four-leaf clover is considered lucky (PA Images)

Festive manicures - Make sure you wash your hands first but you can easily decorate your nails (or those of a willing family member). Think glitter, green and rainbows and you're all set.

Manicures are an easy way to pass the time (pinterest)

Decorate some yummy green goodies - Not limited to cupcakes, you could even use up your store cupboard biscuits. To make green icing all you need is icing sugar, green dye and a dash of water. Alternatively, if you're looking for a healthy option, why not mash up an avocado and spread it on some toast.

There's always a pot of gold at the end of a cupcake (aboutamom.com)

Clothing

Green, green and yet more green - Need we say more?! Green is the colour traditionally associated with the celebrations. Home made hats, bow ties and even pyjamas can be encouraged (if they're green!)

Green is the colour of the day (ebay)

TV and entertainment

Movies

Leap Year (2010) - Amy Adams' character hears an Irish tradition that a man must accept his girlfriend's marriage proposal on a leap day, February 29, so flies to the Emerald Isle to propose to her boyfriend. (Unfortunately you will now have to wait another four years, ladies!)

Amy Adams stars in the 2007 RomCom (Leap Year movie)

Once (2007) - A Dublin busker teams up with a Czech immigrant to try and write and record an album together. The title song 'Falling Slowly' won the Oscar for best original song.

The music from the movie will perk up your day (imdb)

Sport 

 You might not be able to get down to your local park to have a go, but the internet is rife with videos of legendary matches, teach yourself tutorials and funny outtakes.

Hurling: The 4000-year-old sport has been enjoyed by generations and is as popular today as it ever was. The objective is for players to use a wooden stick  (a hurl) to hit a small ball, a sliotar, between the opponents' goalposts. Over the crossbar earns one point while under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper is one goal, which is worth three points.

The Duke of Cambridge tries his hand at Hurling (PA Images)

Gaelic football: Two teams of 15 aim to score by punching or kicking a ball into the other team's goal (3 points) or between two posts above the goal and over a crossbar (1 point).

Donegal's Daire O Baoill on the ball during the GAA Ulster Final in Clones (PA Images)

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