Hong Kong’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations: how city’s Irish residents celebrate their heritage
- Irish have been present in Hong Kong from the beginnings of its days as a British colony
- From dance and sport to food and, of course, Guinness, long-held traditions find a place in contemporary society
Tomorrow, the annual St Patrick’s Day parade will wend its colourful, exuberant, musical way round Tamar Park and The Irish Village. It will be the first for new Irish Consul-General David Costello.
“Since my arrival here last August, I’ve been struck by the sheer volume of Irish place-names in Hong Kong,” says Costello, who points out that the SAR’s emblem, the bauhinia (Bauhinia blakeana), is named after governor Sir Henry Blake (in office 1884-87), who was born in Limerick. “When you look closer, the sheer depth of Irish influence and engagement is staggering. Although the consulate is only opened five years, the Irish history in the region dates back to the 1790s.”
The parade itself is traditionally led by the Hong Kong Police Band, with many of the city’s other marching bands taking part, accompanying groups as diverse as kindergarten students, the Hong Kong American women’s football team, the Chinese Irish Society of Galway, local martial arts schools – and always at least one lion to dance and weave in between everyone.
This year’s celebrations began with the St Patrick’s Ball, which was held in the Grand Hyatt on March 9. In times gone by, the St Patrick’s dance – dedicated to Ireland’s patron saint – was often the first opportunity for an Irish village to get together for a bit of fun after the cold, wet winter. And the Irish in Hong Kong saw no reason not to continue the tradition.