The luck of the Irish wasn’t just in the air on Tuesday — it was in the music, food and emerald-clad crowds as Calgarians gathered to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. From traditional pubs like James Joyce on Stephen Avenue to the Irish Cultural Society (ICS) in Bowness, the city was transformed into a sea of green to mark the annual festivities. At the ICS, the celebration carried extra weight this year as the organization marks its 40th anniversary. “This is a huge day,” said events director Shannon Brash. “We have a lot to celebrate after 40 years in this building in the city. Everyone has a little bit of Irish in them, and we hope they all come out today to celebrate with us.” The society expects hundreds of people to attend the ticketed event, which features two floors of live music, choir performances, and traditional Irish dancing. It runs from 4 p.m. to midnight. The party started even earlier for some at the James Joyce Irish Pub on Stephen Avenue. “We started here at noon,” said one attendee. “We’ll probably run a bit of the gamut of the Irish beers here ... definitely booked off work tomorrow.” For those behind the bar, the day is about more than just a party — it’s about precision. Ben Walsh, a bartender who moved to Calgary from Ireland just two months ago, says there is a science to the perfect pint of Guinness. “Your first pour is up to the harp symbol on the pint glass, and you let it sit for 119.5 seconds,” Walsh explained. “Once it’s so, you just top it up.” While Walsh noted that St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a party day for everyone regardless of heritage, the local enthusiasm reminds him of home.
