Here’s how to throw the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day party

March 17 is one of the biggest days in the Irish calendar – a day that commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland whilst celebrating the culture and heritage of the country itself. Nowadays St. Patrick’s Day goes far beyond the Emerald Isles; we spend an eye-watering $5 billion per year celebrating. Below, we’ve put together some tips to help.

Start with some Guinness

It wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s Day without a pint or two of Guinness. The drink is still brewed in Dublin every day, and more than 1.8 billion glasses are consumed every year. If you’re not in the mood for Guinness, why not support an independent brewery that lovingly creates its own delicious drinks? Porterhouse and its Around the Clock Imperial Stout is a favorite here.

Bring out the sugar

There are so many delicious Irish-inspired dishes that you could give a try over the holiday period, but one trumps them all: a lightly-spiced tart with an apple filling and Irish single malt. Add on some salt and lemon, and you’ve got yourself a truly delicious tart for dessert. The dish is the brainchild of one of Ireland’s most famous chefs, Richard Corrigan. Full recipe.

Treat yourself to new homeware

If you’re thinking of a more classic and casual affair, then you might want to consider treating yourself to some new Irish homeware such as crystal glasses and champagne flutes. There are a number of websites that sell gifts made in Ireland that ship to the United States, so you can easily find some authentic Irish glassware you can bring out at your next Irish-themed event. Just remember that you’ll need to stock up on a couple of whiskeys to keep those glasses full: Jameson, Teeling Single Grain, and Connemara are amongst our favorites.

Think about breakfast

If you’re planning on partying all night long, you’re going to need something to take the edge off things the next morning. You can’t beat an Irish boxty to start the day – delicious potato rostis similar to hash browns, served with vine tomatoes, fresh eggs, and some bacon. If you want to really push the boat out, have the ingredients flown over from Ireland – so authentic!

Whatever you choose to get up to at your next St. Patrick’s Day, we wish you a great day and evening. Have fun, celebrate with friends and family, and try not to drink too much!

Daniel Donn