Irish Step Dancers

Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day with our event this Thursday, 3/9/17; reserve your seat today! Download the Event poster.

St. Patrick's Day celebrates the Roman Catholic feast day of the patron saint of Ireland. Did you know that he wasn't even Irish? His birth name was Maewyn. He was born in Roman Britain. He was kidnapped into slavery and brought to Ireland. He escaped to a monastery in Gaul (France) and converted to Christianity. He went back to Ireland in 432 as a missionary. Tradition has it that Patrick confronted the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites, making Christianity more widespread. According to legend St. Patrick used the three leaf clover (or shamrock) to explain the Trinity. Patrick became a bishop and after his death on 3/17/461 was named Ireland's patron saint. Celebrations in Ireland were understated. When the Irish immigrated to the U.S., they created the bigger celebrations and parades known today. 18th century Irish soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War held the first St. Patrick Day parades. The celebrations became a way for the Irish to connect with their roots after they moved to America. Corn beef and cabbage is an Irish American dish. Irish Americans were so poor they could not afford certain meals. On St. Patrick's Day, the best meal they could afford was beef and cabbage. It became a staple for the holiday.

Reserve your seat so you can feel Irish for a day,