Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Dublin
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/17/art.st.patricks.dublin.jpg caption="The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, Ireland."]
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Greetings from Ireland!
As the locals say, I'm on holiday in Dublin with family. It's been a grand time (more local speak). We are part of the estimated half a million people who lined the streets of Dublin today for the parade down O'Connell Street and beyond.
The crowd is very festive. A lot of green, white and orange can be seen throughout the city. Plus, shamrocks painted on faces and "Kiss me I'm Irish" pins and T-shirts. I'd bet about 60 percent of the crowd is American. The locals aren't complaining. They're making a lot of money. It will come in handy.
The worldwide recession has hit Ireland hard. I read in the local newspaper, Ireland's unemployment rate is nearly 11 percent. By comparison, it's about 8 percent in the U.S.
When times were good, the Republic of Ireland was known as the "Celtic Tiger". Well, the tiger is no longer roaring. But, on this St. Patrick's Day, there's no talk of the bad economic situation. Today is a day to celebrate Irish history and heritage – whether your Irish (like me) or not.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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Filed under: Economy • Global 360° • Maureen Miller |
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Good day to wish you were a Leprechaun.
Happy belated St. Patricks day.
We're looking in NC for the 18 million dollars the gov. put in a pot ! Did anyone find it ? That money was from the educational lottery and we want it back ! Happy St. Patrick's Day !
Sounds like fun – wish I was there. Ireland is such a lovely country and the Irish appear to know how to really celebrate. Hope the American tourists spent a lot of dollars there and the Irish economy sees reason to celebrate as well.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all our Irish kin!
From your cousins in the South.
Happy St. Patrick's Day to all. Nice to see some uplifting news. Come on we are all alittle Irish on St. Pat's Day. Me I am half blood Irish and proud of it.
Re: AIG bonuses
Something is missing. Contractual bonuses are based upon certain results. They are not guaranteed. What did the contracts say? What are the contingencies?
Ac360 diverse blog is phenomena,
Thanks for the hard work and being creative.
Happy St. Patrick's Day to All.
nice happy article for a change. Carl Parisien Natick MA
Happy St Patrick's Day! I wish I were over there it looks like fun!
I love Ireland!!! A good day to celebrate!