Saint Patrick’s Day often feels like a bigger festival abroad than it does at home, particularly in the US.
Apart from America, the occasion is also marked across Europe and in Australia too.
Aisling Moloney lives in Sydney and told Late Breakfast with Clare McKenna that she had enjoyed the festivities in 38° heat.
“Most of the celebrations happened over the weekend, we don’t have a public holiday,” she said.
“A lot of the Irish obviously working today or maybe some took the day off in order to really revel in the celebrations.
“Definitely the focal point of any kind of Irish community events happened over the weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday there was loads going on in Sydney.”
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Ms Moloney celebrated by attending the Misneach music festival, which was arranged by Dermot Kennedy.
“I don’t know if Guinness can hydrate you, but I think that’s what they were attempting to do yesterday at the festival,” she said.
“It was gas, we walked in and you know, obviously there’s Irish music acts on and then there’s literally like a sea of young Irish people all wearing like retro Italia 90 jerseys or like jerseys with the Irish proclamation on the back.
“Me and my friends had a little competition, we were like, how many Irish proclamations do you think will walk past us on the back of some young fella?
“But we walked in and there was like one tree in the whole place and everybody was just huddled underneath the tree, getting the bit of shade.”
People are seen during Saint Patrick's Day celebrations at The Merc street party in Sydney, Monday, March 17, 2025. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi).According to Ms Moloney, there is a great sense of Irish community in Sydney.
“When I was looking around at the Misneach festival I was like, God I’ve never felt more kind of normal and like, I’m just doing what everyone is doing because we’re all in the same boat,” she said.
“It can be a struggle, it’s difficult, you’re away from your family, you’re so far away from home but yet, like all these other people are doing the exact same thing.”
Ms Moloney said it is great to find such familiarity so far from home.
Main image: People are seen during Saint Patrick's Day celebrations at The Merc street party in Sydney, Monday, March 17, 2025. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)
