Indeed. But if you read this article, it really does come across that they look down on working women and that's not feminism of any kind.

I'm a protestant and I got to have the bank holiday too, so I have NO idea what you're on about....

In fairness, he definitely was! But as another poster said, it would have made a super interesting article to compare Paddy's Day and Cinco de Mayo with how they're viewed in their native habitats.

Probably the wisest course of action! And yes, it is pretty awesome to have tomorrow off!

I can understand that people elsewhere wouldn't necessarily have the "hide and seek cover" mentality that permeates city centre Dublin!

I do enjoy it - it's nice to have a break before Easter holidays and it's cool that Dan gets something out of it. But it'd be nice to have an actual discussion of the holiday and how it's viewed, rather than shutting it down, as you seem to want to. If you don't want to, don't participate!

Now if only he'd actually legislate for X!

I really don't think you can speak for all of us in Ireland.

Damn straight.

I think if you're discussing the "real holidayness" of something then, yes, it is worth a discussion.

Really? Because what I'm most excited for is the bank holiday tomorrow. I'm certainly not venturing out into Temple Bar to celebrate "heritage and culture"

I'd actually really enjoy that article....

Valentine's Day! Everyone complains about the fakeness of that one...

I suppose it depends what you mean by holiday - it's a real day off and that I definitely like. ;-)

As I'm guessing you're from Virginia, I think there is a MASSIVE distinction between what it means to Irish people in Ireland and what it means to the diaspora. In Ireland, it's most appreciated as a day off from work.

I take your point, but in Ireland, pretty much everyone I know would consider it the equivalent of like President's Day - an excuse for a day off, but not much more.

Actually, I think claiming that Irish people "observe" Paddy's Day is a bit much - maybe there was historical mass attendance, but everyone I know spends the day hiding out to avoid the American tourists...

I'm just going to blithely hope he means that in a Tommy-Tiernan "the Irish built their empire by immigrating and breeding!" way...

He's kind of right on it being a fake holiday - I mean, while I do get that when Irish people tended to be devout Catholics, it required the day off for Mass, but I don't think I'm alone in saying I consider it a thinly veiled excuse for a bank holiday...

But automatic weapons make it easier to kill a lot of people quickly. I'd rather effort be required!