Celebrating St. Patrick's Day: A Toast to Irish Culture and Community

In a recent Commons debate on St. Patrick’s Day and Northern Irish affairs, Labour MP Dawn Butler shared a humorous experience of almost being thrown out of an Irish pub for ordering blackcurrant cordial with her Guinness, referring to it as a ‘cardinal sin.’ Despite her candid admission that she doesn’t particularly enjoy Guinness, Butler proudly represents Brent East, noted as the largest Irish constituency in the UK.

Another Labour MP, Adam Jogee, celebrated the rich influence of Irish culture on British pubs, tracing its impact from various locations across the UK to highlight the shared love for a good pint. He emphasized that St. Patrick’s Day serves as a celebration of Irish heritage, connecting both those who identify as Irish or Northern Irish and those who aspire to share that identity.

Jogee paid homage to influential women from both unionist and nationalist traditions and recognized the literary contributions of notable Northern Irish figures like poet Seamus Heaney and musician Van Morrison. He clarified that the debate focused on the cultural relationships rather than constitutional issues.

Additionally, Conservative MP Andrew Rossindell advocated for St. Patrick’s Day to be designated as a national bank holiday, alongside other feast days in the UK. He urged a deeper celebration of St. Patrick’s Day on the mainland and suggested that the Republic of Ireland consider re-joining the Commonwealth, to strengthen its ties with other nations like Australia and Canada.