St Patrick's Day Celebrations in Helsinki

Photo from https://www.myhelsinki.fi/places/helsinki-cathedral/

Happy St Patrick's Day, everyone! One of my favourite 'blessings' is: As you slide down the bannister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way!

In an address on St Patrick’s Day 1987, when the world was still relatively normal, President Ronald Regan said St Patrick died on the 17th March in the year 461 and that only the Irish would be ‘carrying on a wake’ for 1,500 years.

When I was young, the wake was a day-long celebration. We got off school, we walked in or watched the parade through the town and that was it. In more recent years, it has morphed into a three or four day celebration or 'festival', most especially in Dublin.  

This year, our Taoiseach kicked off the festival particularly early by meeting President Trump in the White House to present the customary bowl of shamrock on the 12th March, right in the middle of the Cheltenham Race Festival. We began the celebrations early in Helsinki also. On the next day, 13th March, we were lucky enough to be invited, through my husband’s company, to the celebration of St Patrick’s Day by the Irish Embassy in Helsinki. The event was held in the Helsinki Cathedral Crypt.

Helsinki Cathedral is the iconic building that is on many postcards and tourist brochures, rising grandly on the northern side of the impressive Senate Square. I had visited the inside of the Cathedral in early January when friends were visiting, but had never before been inside the crypt. It is only officially open to visitors from June to August when there are, apparently, wonderful free exhibitions in this spectacular setting. At the Irish embassy’s function, it was very special to see the green and gold lighting on the vaulted arches. The Ambassador of Ireland, H.E. Paul Sherlock, welcomed the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth, who spoke very well about the links between our two countries, particularly in terms of culture and investment opportunities. We were treated to tasty Clonakilty sausages and there were even some coveted cans of Guinness served, which are apparently in short supply globally. There was Irish music by the Helsinki Harps (an off-shoot of the GAA club of the same name) and three Finnish ladies danced Irish reels and hornpipes.

On Saturday evening we visited Molly Malone's pub, just because you'd have to at this time of year. On Sunday, the only 'parade' we could find was a walk organised by the Irish Wolfhound club in Finland together with the Irish-Finnish society. Apparently, Irish wolfhounds have been in Finland since the 1930s. We met outside the Tooloo Sports Hall beside the Olympic Stadium where Ireland's soccer team played Finland last October and we walked along the bay back to the city. Dressing in green was encouraged and all breeds of dogs were welcome, but the magnificent big boys stole the show.

And, here I am today, on the actual day itself, with nothing Irish-related to do. I walked around the nearby shopping centre earlier wearing my shamrock emblazoned scarf from St Vincent's shop in Firhouse and sporting my Joanne Hynes Mná handbag from Dunne's Stores and nobody noticed. We might just have to have one or three in O'Malley's Pub this evening to round off the celebrations. In the meantime, I love this video celebrating Irish changemakers across the globe with a beautiful solo by Cat Dowling, (@catdowling) to put me in the mood of home.

I had very little luck in Cheltenham this past week. Not even the fancied Galopin Des Champs could do the business. Thanks to my friend Liam for including me in the Cheltenham WhatsApp group again this year. There was good banter, but not as many good tips as previous years. I managed well enough watching the races with Virgin Anywhere TV (albeit I was two hours ahead), but I had no luck in being able to place a bet here. Gambling regulations restrict local punters to betting with the state-owned Veikkaus, which holds a monopoly over all bookmakers and casinos. I tried to register, and could find betting on all types of sports and events (there was even betting on the Eurovision), except horse racing. The Paddy Power app said I was trying to access from a country they don't take bets from, so I am forever grateful to my friend Mary who laid my €5 each way bet every day and helped me to lose my money!

There's always next year.