Irish Association of Korea brings St. Paddy's Day festival back to Seoul's Sindorim

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 08:56

Multicultural Community

St. Patrick's Day celebration returns to Seoul

Posted : 2023-03-16 14:56

Updated : 2023-03-16 18:53

A previous St. Patrick's Day celebration in D-Cube Plaza at Sindorim Station / Courtesy of Irish Association of Korea

By Jon Dunbar

After four long years, the Irish Association of Korea is resuming its St. Patrick's Day festival this Saturday, at D-Cube City by Sindorim Station on Seoul Metro lines 1 and 2.

Music, dance, food and culture will be offered from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A raffle will be held, with prizes including a round-trip flight to your home country and a deluxe hotel stay for two at the Conrad hotel.

The lineup of musicians including Ha Reem, Ceoltoiri Craic, Seoul Shamrocks, Rince, Dunnie, Michelle Paris, Rae Bae, Spartan Brass, Honey Jam Sam and Patchwork Road.

At 8 p.m., the fun moves to JR Pub in Itaewon for an after-party that will run late.

"At D-Cube I will be performing an acoustic set with my friend Rae," Dunne said. "We will be playing and singing some contemporary Irish hits that will hopefully get the crowd singing along with us, to close out the festival," said Dunne, an Irish national living in Seoul. "In the evening I will be up onstage with Incestrul Lust at JR Pub. We will be stepping things up a gear there, covering some traditional Irish folk tunes but with a rock/punk twist."

St. Patrick's Day celebrations will be held across the city. Near Hongik University, Club FF hosts two nights of festivities, starting on the holiday itself on Friday and continuing the following night on Saturday. Daddy O Radio, an all-Korean punk band inspired by Irish American punk bands like Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly, will play on the first night.

They'll be joined by Skipjack, Silverstone, Gorymurgy and Sans Blague. The following night will feature The Next Generation, Smoking Goose, Thunders, Sweet Gasoline and Kangaroo.

"It's definitely interesting to see how your national holiday is celebrated around the world," Dunne said. "Most people's image is of the North American style celebrations, ie) the green beer and shamrocks. For Irish people this can be a novelty and part of the fun when living abroad, as at home it can be a bit more subdued, especially in smaller towns and villages. Irish people will never turn down a party, especially if it's in their honor, so most people will just go along with any kind of celebration, no matter how gimmicky or 'unirish' it may be."

jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr