St Patrick's Day
 

I will be in Dublin on March 17th 2012. Do the Irish celebrate St Patrick's Day with a party or is it a holy day? Also, what hotel would be a good place to stay.

Used to be a Holy Day I believe and Boston developed the party day and now Dublin is following suit - that's the story at least.

Um - I think the party started in New York - we've been doing it sinc before the civil war.

"a party or is it a holy day?"

Which Protestant heresy taught you that the two can be mutually exclusive?

In Catholic Europe, both always and everywhere go hand in hand. Only in the kind of dystopia where Calvin's life-denying delusions have been allowed to fester would anyone think otherwise.

Holy Days are, by definition, a celebration. For uninformed doubters: Good Friday isn't, and never has been, a Holy Day.

As said it is both. Unfortunately some turn the event into a drunken spectacle. You will find some shops closed on the day but pubs and eateries will be easy to find.

As to the hotel that would depend on your taste and budget.

http://www.discoverireland.com/gb/ab...-patricks-day/

syas until recently pubs across Ireland closed on what was then a Holy Day - only recently has it become an American-style green beer St Paddy's day.