Ryan’s: Irish eyes a’ smiling

DRINKING, dancing, laughing and yelling at Ryan’s Bar behind Jusco in Wanzaisha, Xiangzhou, a hundred westerners and Chinese celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on March 16 night.

An Australian whose web name is kingstadlux called it, “The best party ever in the history of Zhuhai!”

People from China, the UK, America, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and other countries and regions talked over Guinness Irish stout beer, Bailey’s, and Jameson standing inside or sitting at the tables outside. Some people wore awesome Guinness hats and green T-shirts.

The Bahouki Band, a three-piece Celtic folk group based in Hong Kong, played Irish folk music and sang Irish songs. Together more than six years, the band has performed extensively in Irish bars around Southeast Asia. Oliver Quinn, a token Irish member of the group known for adding variety, creativity and that essential sprinkling of Irishness; John Hutton, a man with wit and humour on stage and a true entertainer with high musical skills; and David May, a Scottish singer as well as fiddler known for his explosive and energetic style, showed their high-calibre ability to give the crowd exactly what they wanted.

The band created passionately and aroused the enthusiasm of the audience. Cindy Liu, an English teacher with Beijing Institute of Technology; Randall Martin, an American who instructs at Jinlu (Golden Road) Kindergarten; and other Chinese in green skirts and westerners danced jigs or Brigadoon to match the music, causing immense applause and laughter.

Michael O’ Connor, an Irish working at Dr Martens Airwair Hong Kong Ltd Zhuhai Office; Sean Moran, headmaster of Global IELTS School Zhuhai Branch; and Ryan Fedoruk, owner of Ryan’s Bar, organized the party. “It is fun to enjoy Irish music while drinking,” Michael said, holding high a beer. With a Guinness hat on his head, Sean was drinking with friends and singing to the music while Ryan was serving customers.

In his hometown, people gather to celebrate the gala. “at bars on St Patrick’s Day, so if you come from the United Kingdom, everybody enjoys himself, and everybody loves each other,” Michael said.

“A bar, live band, beer -- I think it’s great entertainment. It’s real, raw and natural. It’s fresh,” TSC or Doc Tempest, an Australian who has lived in Zhuhai for two years, commented.

“In Australia, there are Irish bars and we drink lot of Guinness. We usually get a T-shirt or something to commemorate the day. Also there’re games and activities like that at the Irish bar,” Doc said. “Basically it’s a reason to get together, enjoying good Irish music; enjoying good Irish hospitality,” he added.

“It’s a big holiday in New Zealand,” Marcus Cropen Taylor said. Streets and bars are usually crowded with people. “It’s big drinking and it lasts through the whole night,” he noted.

In American cities with large Irish populations, St. Patrick’s Day is quite a deal. Big cities and small towns alike celebrate with parades, “wearing of the green,” music and songs, Irish food (corned beef, cabbage and potatoes) and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games. Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green!

St. Patrick was the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to land. Most of what is known about him comes from his two works, the Confessio, a spiritual autobiography, and his Epistola, a denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish Christians.

There are several accounts of St. Patrick’s death. One says that he died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, on March 17, 460 CE. His jawbone was preserved in a silver shrine and was often requested in times of childbirth, epileptic fits, and as a preservative against the “evil eye.” Another account says that St. Patrick ended his days at Glastonbury, England, and was buried there. The Chapel of St. Patrick still exists as part of Glastonbury Abbey. Today, many Catholic places of worship all around the world are named after St. Patrick, including cathedrals in New York and Dublin City.

St. Patrick’s Day has come to be associated with everything Irish: anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick’s Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.

Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, because March 17 is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.

Today, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the US, Canada, and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, Russia, and most recently, in China.