SKYY Spirits News

The Official Whiskey of St. Paddy’s Day Reveals the Global Differences in How People Commemorate Ireland’s Most Famous Saint

TULLAMORE, IRELAND (March 13, 2009) — Americans have a way of putting their own stamp on holidays originating in other countries. This is certainly true of St. Patrick’s Day when rivers run green and people start dreaming of leprechauns, four-leaf clovers and all that blarney. But can the same be said for how the world at large celebrates this greenest of holidays? Working on the assumption that everyone is a bit Irish on March 17, Tullamore Dew®, the fastest growing and second-largest Irish whiskey brand globally, as well as the official whiskey of St. Patrick’s Day, has tracked the best-known Irish celebrations around the world. From Russia to Argentina, the Caribbean to Japan, a rollicking good time awaits.

According to Ireland’s Census Bureau, there are over 80 million Irishmen (and women) world-wide, yet only 4.2 million inhabit Ireland. This means over 90% of the world’s Irish population lives somewhere else, including 34.7 million in the U.S. alone. So it seems likely that St. Paddy’s Day can be found elsewhere, as well.

In Dublin, Ireland
Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival is the largest annual event in all of Ireland. The massive array of festivities include music, theatre, family carnivals, comedy street arts, visual arts, dance, a treasure hunt, symposium, and cavalcades of vintage cars. The festival spans 5 days and 4,000 performers, with 1.5 million spectators in attendance.

In Montserrat
The tiny island of Montserrat, known as “Emerald Island of the Caribbean” because it was founded by Irish refugees from the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, is the only place apart from the Republic of Ireland and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador where St Patrick’s Day is a public holiday. The holiday commemorates a failed slave uprising that occurred on March 17, 1798. Though the St. Patrick’s Day revolt was aborted, the martyrdom of the rebels continues to serve as an inspiration to the island’s people.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina
The weather in mid-March is comfortably warm in Argentina, and all-night parties are celebrated with dancing and drinking until seven or eight in the morning. Although those not wearing green are traditionally not mocked, most enthusiasts still adorn themselves in festive Irish clothing. In Buenos Aires, the main party is held on a downtown street, Reconquista, the home of many Celtic bars. In 2006, over 50,000 people gathered on this street and in the pubs nearby for the celebration.

In Florence, Italy
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, the city hosts ‘Festa Irlandese’ – ten full days of live music, food and drink. The event takes place in a huge tent and attracts thousands of visitors who avidly consume the Italian interpretation of Irish food and drink, including potato soup, cooked beef, smoked salmon, and other cross-cultural delicacies.

In Montreal, Canada
The longest-running St. Paddy’s Day parade in Canada occurs each year in Montreal, Québec. The tradition began in 1824, although St. Patrick’s Day itself has been celebrated in Montreal as far back as 1759 by Irish soldiers in the Montreal Garrison following the British conquest of New France.

In Moscow, Russia
Since the inception of Moscow’s parade in 1992, each year the floats have become more numerous and sophisticated as have the wide range of international and Russian participants. The local Irish bars of Moscow contribute their own floats and Muscovites proudly showoff homegrown Irish Wolfhounds, which are nearly as big as the floats themselves.

In Oslo, Norway
The Irish community in Oslo celebrates March 17 with a lively parade as nearly a thousand people join in the festivities. The parade navigates through shopping streets, past Oslo cathedral, on to Town Hall Square. Accompanying a pipe band is St Patrick, driven by a red-bearded chauffeur in a horse and cart, along with a host of other colorful Irish characters.

In Copenhagen, Denmark
The St. Patrick’s Day 3 Legged Charity Race started in Copenhagen in 2001. The race is organized by the Irish expat community and the Irish pub in the Danish capital where Tullamore Dew is the top-selling Irish whiskey. In 2008, despite a blizzard, the event raised 21,500 DKK (~2,900 euro).

In Munich, Germany
Munich is the only German city holding a St. Patrick’s Day parade owing to the considerably large Irish community. The parade is organized by the German-Irish Society of Bavaria and has been held every year since 1996. Meanwhile it has evolved into the largest parade in continental Europe and features not only Irish/Scots/English, but also German clubs and societies. Following the 2 km-parade, which usually takes place the Sunday preceding March 17, is an open air party with live music and dance performances.

In Seoul, South Korea
In Seoul, members of the expatriate community congregate on Daehakro Street (Taehongno), and a small parade goes up and down the street. Parade members include local expat sports teams, the Irish Community, and several Korean marching bands. In 2007, the Marronier Park near Daehakro was filled with partygoers sampling Irish stew and drinks.

In Tokyo, Japan
Organized by the Irish Network Japan (INJ), about 2,000 parade participants march down fashionable Omotesando Avenue, lined for the occasion by Irish and Japanese flags, and cheered on by as many as 7,000 spectators. The Japanese love a good party and there are a growing number of Irish pubs that send attractive young ladies to the parade for the sole purpose of recruiting revelers to visit.

In England
The largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the UK is held in Birmingham over a two mile route through the city centre. The organizers describe it as the third biggest parade in the world after Dublin and New York.
Manchester hosts a two week Irish festival in the weeks prior to St Patrick’s Day, not surprising given that the city claims the largest Irish population in Great Britain outside of London.

In the United States
Parades are the big thing in the US. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States, held in Boston in 1761. New York’s parade is the biggest and Hot Springs, Arkansas is the shortest. Green rivers flow in Chicago and San Antonio. What is thought of as the traditional meal of St. Patrick’s Day – Corned Beef and Cabbage – is actually a U.S. culinary phenomena, not typically served in Ireland at all. The folks in Ireland are much more likely to feast on Boiled Bacon and Cabbage on St. Paddy’s Day.
But one thing is for sure: No matter where you celebrate, from Germany, to Norway, to South Korea, to the good old USA – a legendary smooth shot of Tullamore Dew or an authentic Irish Coffee is certain to make the day complete.

To wit, a final recipe suggestion:

The Original Irish Coffee
Fill an Irish coffee glass with very hot water to pre-heat then empty.
Pour hot coffee into hot glass until it is about 3/4 full.
Drop in 2 cocktail sugar cubes; stir until sugar is thoroughly dissolved.
Add full jigger of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey for proper taste and body.
Top with a collar of lightly whipped cream by pouring gently over a spoon.
Enjoy it while piping hot.

Slainté & a very happy St. Patrick’s Day!

About Skyy Spirits, LLC
Skyy Spirits, LLC is the US-based wholly owned subsidiary of Gruppo Campari (Milan: CPR.MI) and the definitive marketer and distributor of super-premium and luxury spirits brands in North America. Launched in 1992 with the introduction of its flagship brand, SKYY® Vodka, Skyy Spirits has grown exponentially, building a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers. Skyy Spirits manages Gruppo Campari’s portfolio in the US of such leading brands as SKYY® Vodka, SKYY90®, SKYY InfusionsTM, Campari®, Cabo Wabo® Tequila, Ouzo 12®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur® and Jean-Marc XO Vodka®. Skyy Spirits is also the exclusive US distributor of Cutty Sark® Scotch Whisky, The Glenrothes® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Garioch® Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Flor de Caña® Rum, Carolans Irish Cream®, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey®, Irish Mist® Liqueur, Midori® Melon Liqueur, ZEN Green Tea Liqueur TM and The Yamazaki® Single Malt Whisky.

Skyy Spirits was founded and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Please enjoy Skyy Spirits brands responsibly. For more information, http://www.skyyspirits.com.

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