St Patrick's Day 2025: It's all about the Palestinians 

The Irish community across the globe is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day today, Ireland’s most iconic trademark that connects the rest of the world to its local culture in a festive burst of green, music, and plenty of alcohol. The holiday commemorates the introduction of Christianity to Ireland. The tradition of using the three-leaf clover on this day stems from St. Patrick, who used it to explain the Christian Trinity to Ireland’s native inhabitants.

In Dublin, Ireland’s capital, this morning (Monday), people chose to mark the holiday with a display of solidarity with Palestinians, as dozens of Palestinian flags fluttered alongside Irish ones on the Ha’penny Bridge. Protesters told local media outlets that they intend to turn St. Patrick’s Day celebrations into a demonstration of support for the Palestinian cause, even though those two things have literally nothing to do with each other.

According to Gulf Times' X account, "Supporters of the Palestinian cause in Ireland frequently highlight parallels between Palestine’s struggles and Ireland’s own history of resistance against colonial rule ... The demonstration aimed to urge the Irish government to take action against Israel’s policies in Palestine and to express support for the Palestinian people."

Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Irish protesters displayed Palestinian flags across Dublin’s iconic Ha’Penny Bridge, transforming the national celebration into a show of solidarity. The demonstration aimed to urge the Irish government to take action against Israel’s policies in Palestine and to express support for the Palestinian people. Supporters of the Palestinian cause in Ireland frequently highlight parallels between Palestine’s struggles and Ireland’s own history of resistance against colonial rule.

But there are also celebrations filled with joy and the color green. In major cities with large Irish diaspora populations, colorful parades and events are planned today to mark the occasion. As is tradition each year, the City of Chicago dyes the river waters green, a practice that has become one of the holiday’s most recognizable symbols worldwide.

U.S. President Donald Trump will take part in today’s celebrations after meeting with Ireland’s president last week (Thursday) at the White House. New York hosts one of the largest and oldest parades in the United States. The parade, now in its 264th year, takes place along Manhattan’s famous Fifth Avenue. Approximately 150,000 participants are expected to march, with another 2 million watching the live broadcast.