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The Review - MUSIC - grooves with CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 13 March 2008

I will arise and go now to Trafalgar Square...

PREVIEW
ST PATRICK'S DAY
Various venues

IT’S the big Guinness hats and grinning faces that I can’t stand.
It’s not that I don’t like fun – of course I do – and everything else about St Patrick’s Day, on the whole, is fine. The big sessions, even the over-friendly lads on the Tube that started ‘celebrating’ at lunch.
No, for me, the one thing that doesn’t add up about Paddy’s Day is Guinness hats. That and the silly wigs people sometimes wear.
But if you want a taste of real Ireland this Sunday, head to Trafalgar Square.
Granted there may be some silly hats, but there’s also a proper Emerald Isle line-up including former Moloko frontwoman Roisin Murphy (pictured), who was born in Ireland, alongside some stellar Irish acts, including a girl band called Asian.
But what is St Patrick’s Day all about? Who was St Patrick? They don’t teach you that kind of stuff at school do they?
First of all let’s get the day straight: it’s Monday March 17 and in Ireland it’s a holiday. It’s not here though, so go easy on the Sunday celebrations. Oh, and St Patrick was a Christian missionary in the 5th century – drove the snakes out of Ireland, apparently.
Apart from the showstopping sounds in the Square, an amazing lineup of films are also being screened at Tricycle, Barbican and Prince Charles’ cinemas, including Ken Loach’s Oscar-winning film The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
• For full details of all the festivities visit www.london.gov.uk/stpatricksday/

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