5 Places to Study and Experience St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Eve! Time to shake your shamrocks!

Every year on March 17, the Irish—and millions of other people around the world—celebrate Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick.

What started as a religious festival has morphed into a global festival of Irish culture—dancing, singing, food, shamrocks, leprechauns, pots of gold, and of course—Guinness.

Want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style this year?

Let’s take a closer look at five great places to celebrate.

1. Ummmm… Ireland!

Of course! It follows that if Ireland is the home of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration, you should check it out the celebrations at the center of their creation.

Travel to the epicenter of the festival—Dublin. With one of the most spectacular celebrations in the world, you’ll witness the greenest parade you’ve ever seen with about half a million others. The festival runs for four days—and you’ll have a chance to see what Ireland is really all about.

Ireland also boasts universities that consistently rank in the top 1 percent of research institutions in the world. Celebrate—and witness some of the most innovative university-industry partnerships that you’ll find anywhere.

2. Chicago, US

If Ireland’s a bit far away, check out Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. It can’t be beaten for its eclectic hum of Irish culture and big city life. With bustling Irish pubs, dancing in the street, and the sparkling green Chicago River, you’ll love the downtown parade.

The third most populous city in the US, Chicago is also home to some of the country’s finest universities.

The city also features a number of universities, business schools and colleges that boast urban campuses full of vigor and life.

It’s hard to beat St. Patrick’s Day in the Windy City, unless of course, you’re in the Caribbean (see #3).

3. Montserrat (in the Caribbean)

Travel to Monserrat for an Irish jig this St. Patrick’s Day.

This tiny island nation in the Caribbean is the only country besides Ireland that celebrates St. Patrick’s Day as a public holiday.

Settled by Irish pioneers in the 18th century, locals celebrate St. Patrick’s Day for a week—with shamrocks, green beer, and the history of the rise of the freedom fighters against slavery.

University programs in Montserrat offer another taste of island life—study the island’s ecology as it relates to global sustainability.

4. Buenos Aires, Argentina

On St. Patrick’s Day in Argentina, everyone is Irish. Over half a million Irish in Argentina celebrate St. Patrick’s Day every year. This year, the celebration happened on March 10. Revelers, elves, fairies, bagpipers, and Irish dancers gathered along the Avenida de Mayo to sing, dance, celebrate, and eat and drink at the celebrations 50+ beer and food stalls. Live music, dancing—and hurling—were big parts of this year’s celebration.

Studying in the South American nation is just as festive. Learn Spanish, attend school at an affordable price, and immerse yourself in a unique culture. Stunning landscape, fantastic food, fascinating history, and relative safety make Argentina a great place to study—and celebrate Ireland’s patron saint.

5. Auckland, New Zealand

Want a rip-roaring party? The southern hemisphere’s celebration of St. Patrick’s Day continues in Auckland, New Zealand.

The furthest celebration of Ireland, Auckland goes green all day on St. Patrick’s Day. A parade, complimented by an all-day fair with food, beer, kids’ rides, face painting, Irish music and dancing, Auckland’s celebration shouldn’t be missed.

Studying in Auckland isn’t so bad either. In a city with lots of universities, find a bevy of educational options in addition to great culture, outstanding lifestyle, stunning scenery, friendly people, and so much to see and do.

Get your Irish on. Get out there. Have fun. Study well.