Please don't get trashed
19 March 2008, 07:43
Dublin, Ireland - A record-setting 650 000 revellers lined the sunny streets of Dublin for St Patrick's Day, as Ireland's leaders urged the nation to honour its "most famous immigrant" - and avoid drinking too much.
Dubliners and tourists packed themselves up to 20-deep on Dublin's pavements for Monday's parade - the centrepiece of Ireland's five-day St Patrick's Festival.
Police launched a crackdown on rowdiness and drunken driving, which typically follow the day's parading.
Police said four teenagers were arrested during the parade and would probably face charges of disorderly behaviour and assaulting officers.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who was in Washington to meet US President George Bush, called on people back home to drink in moderation "and not to get behind the wheel after doing it".
Virtually the entire Irish government left Ireland at the weekend to attend events worldwide, from Buenos Aires to Beijing.
One of the few who remained, President Mary McAleese, invited hundreds of leaders of Ireland's rapidly growing immigrant community to her lavish state residence in Dublin's Phoenix Park for a St Patrick's Day party.
In a speech to her guests, she called Patrick "our most famous immigrant", referring to his background as a Briton who was enslaved by Irish raiders in his youth - but after winning freedom returned to Ireland to spread Christianity in the pagan land.
But after dark, booze-fuelled violence struck predominantly Catholic parts of Northern Ireland.
Two rival mobs of Catholics attacked each other near the city's Anglican cathedral. One teen was hospitalised with serious face wounds.
And in Newry, a gang armed with knives and a samurai-style sword attacked a 15-year-old boy in a shopping centre. The victim suffered slashed hands as he tried to protect himself. - Sapa-AP
Dubliners and tourists packed themselves up to 20-deep on Dublin's pavements for Monday's parade - the centrepiece of Ireland's five-day St Patrick's Festival.
Police launched a crackdown on rowdiness and drunken driving, which typically follow the day's parading.
Police said four teenagers were arrested during the parade and would probably face charges of disorderly behaviour and assaulting officers.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who was in Washington to meet US President George Bush, called on people back home to drink in moderation "and not to get behind the wheel after doing it".
Virtually the entire Irish government left Ireland at the weekend to attend events worldwide, from Buenos Aires to Beijing.
One of the few who remained, President Mary McAleese, invited hundreds of leaders of Ireland's rapidly growing immigrant community to her lavish state residence in Dublin's Phoenix Park for a St Patrick's Day party.
In a speech to her guests, she called Patrick "our most famous immigrant", referring to his background as a Briton who was enslaved by Irish raiders in his youth - but after winning freedom returned to Ireland to spread Christianity in the pagan land.
But after dark, booze-fuelled violence struck predominantly Catholic parts of Northern Ireland.
Two rival mobs of Catholics attacked each other near the city's Anglican cathedral. One teen was hospitalised with serious face wounds.
And in Newry, a gang armed with knives and a samurai-style sword attacked a 15-year-old boy in a shopping centre. The victim suffered slashed hands as he tried to protect himself. - Sapa-AP
- This article was originally published on page 37 of The Star on March 19, 2008
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