Tag Archives: St Patrick’s Day

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit*

Abbey Leix, County Laois

Ballyvolane, County Cork

Lodge Park, County Kildare

Oakfield Park, County Donegal

Malahide Castle, County Dublin

In 1959, following a visit to Ireland, Johnny Cash wrote a song called ‘Forty Shades of Green.’ Given that this is St Patrick’s Day, it seems appropriate to offer readers of the Irish Aesthete a small selection of those shades…

Killruddery, County Wicklow

Garinish Island, County Cork

Blarney Castle, County Cork

Farmleigh, Dublin

Kells Bay, County Kerry

*Translation to English: Happy St Patrick’s Day
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For the Day That’s In It


A hipster St Patrick, as portrayed to one side of the east door at the Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle. The carving throughout this building was undertaken in the opening years of the 19th century by sculptor Edward Smyth working in conjunction with his son John (who took over all the work following Edward’s death in 1812). Note how the back of St Patrick’s mitre neatly elides into the arch behind him. Engaged in a face-off on the other side of the door – and likewise looking as though on a break from his real job as a barista – is Brian Boru, High King of Ireland before his death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.


The Irish Aesthete sends St Patrick’s Day greetings to all friends and followers.