Raising a glass to a sober St Patrick’s Day
WHEN the pubs closed shortly before St Patrick’s Day last year there was a novelty factor to it, a sense we were experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime moment, something we’d reflect upon in years to come.
To mark the occasion we spent Paddy’s Day at home, drinking as if we were in the pub, honouring our patron saint the only way we knew how. This year on St Patrick’s Day the pubs will once more be closed, as they have been for the majority of the last 12 months, and drinking from home has lost much of its charm.
Yet many will still raise a drink to Patrick from their own living rooms, however, others will take part in an initiative designed to change the perception of a day intrinsically linked to our favourite pastime.
This year is the 10th anniversary of Sober St. Patrick’s Day, an alternative celebration first proposed by Irish-American theatre and television producer, William Spencer Reilly.
Since 2011 sober celebrations of Ireland’s patron saint have been held on parade day in New York and the initiative continues to grow around the world with official gatherings organised across America in Virginia, Long Island, Rhode Island and in Connecticut, as well as in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Social media strategist and Rosslare-native Samantha Kelly has been announced as brand ambassador in Ireland for Sober St. Patrick’s Day 2021. Like so many events in the past year, the celebrations may be virtual, but that will not stop the craic, Samantha says.
‘I am honoured to be involved with Sober St. Patrick’s Day here in Ireland and will be encouraging people all over the country and across the world to connect with us online,’ said Samantha who celebrates 13 years sober in 2021.
‘We already have people sharing videos wishing the team the best of luck on the hashtag #Soberstpatricksday from all over the country.’
The global online celebration on Wednesday, March 17 begins at 8 p.m. and can be accessed at www.SoberStPatricksDay.org. Admission is free this year, but reservations are required.
The pandemic pressures of the past year have seen some alcoholics turn to alcohol again, and many people admit to drinking more than they usually would, largely out of boredom and stress, Samantha says.
‘Paddy’s Day 2021 might be the hardest ever to stay sober in Ireland, but that is all the more reason to promote the fact that there is fun and hope and happiness to be had, without the help of alcohol,’ she says.
Despite various lockdown constraints, family-friendly events and real Irish hospitality with musicians, dancers and comedians will be staged virtually around the world to mark the 10th anniversary celebrations of #SoberStPatricksDay, according to the group’s founder and Board Chairman William Spencer Reilly.
‘We are delighted to have the support of Samantha Kelly in Ireland, as my fervent wish is that next year, in 2022, more Sober St. Patrick’s Day parties will take root in Ireland,’ he said. ‘We may have started this, but hey, he’s your saint and it’s your culture we’re celebrating. It’s easy to plan a party, and we’ll provide support to people in interested towns and cities.
They can be done big or small (50 people minimum) and provide a truly unique setting where people in recovery have a blast mixing anonymously with ‘regular’ mams, dads, and kids.
‘That setting breaks down the myth that you can’t have any fun unless there’s alcohol involved. I’m most interested in getting people in denial about their own alcohol consumption to actually witness that happen, as I’m absolutely convinced that’s precisely why so many people don’t get into recovery.
‘But equally important, I’m also interested in letting family members of alcoholics discover that there’s help for them, too, similar to the great work that Frances Black has done through her RISE Foundation in