Occurring annually on the 17th of March, St. Patrick’s Day is the most important date in the Irish calendar. And where better to celebrate than Ireland itself? From parades to festivals, the events here are truly spectacular.
Every year, thousands of people travel to the Emerald Isle for this national day of celebration. To help those visiting Ireland, Leonardo Hotels has published a list of frequently mispronounced Irish names – perfect for tourists and baffled locals.
This guide will take you through all things St. Patrick’s Day and help you out with Irish name pronunciation before you travel.
What is St. Patrick’s Day?
Also known as the Feast of St. Patrick, Paddy’s Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It’s a religious and cultural event celebrated across the globe.
History of St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland
St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland hasn’t always been about extravagant parties and beer drinking. It was established in 1631 as a modest religious holiday to honour Saint Patrick and didn’t actually become a public holiday in Ireland until 1904. Because St. Patrick’s Day occurred during Lent, it was seen as a time to celebrate and take a break from fasting.
Who was Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick lived in Roman Britain during the 5th century and is celebrated for bringing Christianity to the Emerald Isle. He spent six years in captivity in Ireland before escaping and becoming a priest, founding churches, monasteries and schools across the country. Interestingly, Saint Patrick was never formally canonised as a saint, as there was no formal process in place during his lifetime.
Celebrations
Over time, St. Patrick’s Day festivities have evolved from a feast to parades, music, drinking and dancing. Traditionally, celebrations included wearing ribbons, crosses or shamrocks (which Saint Patrick used to illustrate the Holy Trinity).
Irish immigration in the United States paved the way for modern-day St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The first parades took place in Boston in 1737 and New York City in 1762. During the 1900s, Americans marked the day by wearing green clothes and attending huge parades. Since 1962, Chicago has even dyed its waterways green each year to celebrate the occasion.
How to pronounce Irish names
Irish—also known as Gaelic—is Ireland’s primary language, and around one million people across the country speak it. For those who don’t, particularly any overseas visitors, many Irish words and names are notoriously difficult to pronounce.
To help tourists brush shoulders with the locals this St. Patrick’s Day, we gathered feedback from Leonardo hotel guests and employees based on which names they think cause the most confusion. Whether you’re heading to Cork or spending time in Dublin, our guide will help you decipher hard-to-pronounce Irish names before you visit.
Irish female names
From Aoife to Siobhán, see below for 10 female Irish first names and how they should be pronounced.
Name | How to pronounce |
Aoife | Ee-fa (not Ay-oy-fee) |
Caoilfhionn | Kee-lin (not Kay-oil-fy-on) |
Caoimhe | Kwee-va (not Kay-oy-mee) |
Caoimhseach | Kweev-shock (not Kay-im-seech) |
Gráinne | Grawn-ye (not Grain-ee) |
Méadhbh | Mave (not Meed-huh) |
Niamh | Nee-av (not Ni-am) |
Saoirse | Seer-sha (not Say-o-err-see) |
Sinéad | Shin-aid (not Sign-eed) |
Siobhán | Sh-vawn (not Cy-ob-han) |
Irish male names
Wondering how to pronounce male Irish first names? Read on for the top 10 most confusing contenders.
Name | How to pronounce |
Conchobhar | Kru-hur (not Con-chob-har) |
Daithí | Dah-hee (not Day-thigh) |
Darragh | Da-ra (not Dar-rag) |
Eoin / Eoghan | Oh-un (not Ee-oy-n or Ee-og-han) |
Feardorcha | Far-dur-uh-ka (not Feer-door-cha) |
Micheál | Mee-hawl (not Mick-eel) |
Oisín | Osh-een (not Oy-sin) |
Pádraig / Pádraic | Paw-drig or Paw-rick (not Pad-ray-g) |
Séamus | Shay-mus (not See-mus) |
Tadhg | Tai-g (not Tad-hug) |
St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin
Every year,
Dublin hosts a myriad of Paddy’s Day celebrations. The festivities usually last for around a week, bringing people together from across the globe
Here are some of the best ways to celebrate in the city:
• Watch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade - part of
the St. Patrick’s Festival, this iconic parade attracts more than half a million people each year. It features a colourful collection of marching bands, costumes and floats, with plenty of entertainment throughout• Attend a St. Patrick’s Day concert - soak up the culture by listening to some traditional Irish music this Paddy’s Day. Plenty of gigs and concerts take place around this time in Dublin, often performed by Celtic music groups. Just make sure to book tickets in advance!
• Enjoy a drink in an Irish pub - if you don’t fancy braving T
he Temple Bar this St. Patrick’s Day, there are plenty of other brilliant pubs to visit. Head to The Swan, stop for a pint of Guinness at The Brazen Head or enjoy a tipple at Neary’s• Join a coastal walk - every year,
the Harbour2Harbour Walk takes place on St. Patrick’s Day. Organised by depression charity Aware, this event involves a 26km walk across Dublin Bay, with beautiful coastline views along the wayWhere to stay this St. Patrick’s Day
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland this year? Our hotels in Dublin offer the perfect place to unwind after a busy day. You’ll be right in the thick of the action, only a short walk from the parade and some of the city’s top attractions.
Our Dublin hotels are:
•
Leonardo Hotel Dublin Christchurch - featuring a stylish bar and 182 spacious guestrooms, our Christchurch hotel has everything you need for a luxury stay
•
Leonardo Hotel Dublin Parnell Street - conveniently located near O’Connell Street and the Henry Street shopping district, this hotel is perfect for those visiting Dublin for business or pleasure
Staying in a different part of Ireland? We also have hotels in
Cork and Galway, and Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Now that you’ve learnt about St. Patrick’s Day and learnt how to pronounce some popular Irish names, it’s time to book your dream trip to the Emerald Isle. Check out our
Dublin city guide for all the inspiration you need.
