Putting the Green in Greenville:  Irish Fun on St. Patrick’s Day and Beyond

By JoAnne Laffey Abed

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Faith and begorrah! St. Patrick’s Day is upon us once again. At this time of year, everyone is just a wee bit Irish. Here are some of our top picks for this year’s festivities, as well as some of our year-round favorite Irish pubs. We’ve also provided some tips on where to shop to keep yourself pinch-proof and stylish in green.

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Irish Entertainment:

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The Gaelic word for good cheer and joviality is craic, and Greenville has a lot of options for indulging in craic– from parades and festivals to concerts and dancing. March 11 is the big day for Greenville’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival. The first since 2019, this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade will kick off at 10:00 a.m. and run down Main Street from River Street to E. North Street. Immediately following the parade, the festivities will continue at NOMA Square, with live traditional Irish music, pipe and drum corps, and performances by local musicians and the Irish Steppers to keep Irish eyes smiling. You’ll definitely want to go early and stay late.

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Looking to go full Riverdance? The West End Dance Company’s Irish Dance of the Carolinas troupe will help you become a true Lord of the Dance with Irish step dancing lessons for all ages. If you want to enjoy some great Irish fiddling on St. Patrick’s Day itself, Bella Nova Strings will be performing at Fireforge, with shows starting at 7:00 p.m.

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Whatever else you do on St. Patrick’s Day, you MUST wear green!

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Irish Food

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Corned beef and cabbage are always a good bet, but if you’d like to broaden your Irish culinary horizons a bit, The Cook’s Station is offering a Shamrock cookie decorating class on March 4 and a gourmet four-course St. Patrick’s Day dinner - complete with Irish seafood, brown bread, bangers, shepherd’s pie, and Bailey’s Irish cream mousse - with Chef Jersey Joe Murphy on March 16. Be sure to reserve your spot quickly, as space is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance.

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Pubs

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Anyone in Ireland will tell you that Guinness is good for you, and so is a night at the pub. There is no more quintessentially Irish experience than lifting a pint with friends at one of Greenville’s coolest Irish pubs. Our favorites include: Connolly’s, Kilpatrick’s Public House, The Velo Fellow, and The Irish Pub. Slainte!

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For the Wee Ones

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St. Patrick’s Day is fun for all ages, so be sure to get your little leprechauns in on the action with some Irish-inspired activities.  The Children’ Museum of the Upstate will host a Cray Creators workshop making St. Patrick’s Day themed crafts on March 4. The Cook’s Station has a hands-on Irish cooking class for children ages 8-12 set for Saturday, March 11 at 10:30 a.m.  Kids will make individual shepherd’s pies and lucky charm treats for dessert. The Greenville County Public Library system will also participate in the holiday shenanigans, with leprechaun hunts scheduled for St. Patrick’s week at various branches, as well as an opportunity for kids aged 6-14 to make a St. Patrick’s Day yarn vase at the Pelham Road branch on March 17 at 10:30 a.m.  

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The Wearin’ o’ the Green

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Whatever else you do on St. Patrick’s Day, you MUST wear green!  Local shops have a variety of options to keep you pinch-proof and looking great.

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• Pink Bee has beautiful dresses and separates perfect for spring weather available in gorgeous shades of green, including the Vilagallo Tammy and Eliza dresses, the Jody V-neck sweater, and Eagan high-rise super skinny jeans

• Splash on Main has some perfect parade gear and accessories, including an adorable “Shake your shamrocks” t-shirt

• Samantha Grace has accessories that will help you show your Irish pride  from head-to-toe, including Greenville gym socks in a beautiful forest green hue

• Julie’s Jewels and Gifts reminds everyone that Ireland is called the EMERALD Isle for a reason

• Guys can easily add a pop of green with a cool bow tie from A Polished Man or A. Smith Clothiers

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Whether you’re a true Irishman or simply along for the joyride, Greenville lives up to its name by offering many great options for reveling in Irish culture, both in March and throughout the year.  However, as the Irish blessing goes, wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.

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