In between juggling an internship and playing host, my friends and I did manage to find some good “craic”. From cramped dancing halls to antiquated Victorian public houses, I did my best to show my friends the variety of the Dublin night (and afternoon) life.

Some of the highlights:
-- A friend showing up in a newly adorned homemade mo-hawk.
-- Random run-ins with unexpected classmates (…I’m learning everyday that Dublin is a surprisingly small big-city)
-- The blurry glimpses of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade through the center of town
-- Introducing my lady friend to my boss (“Oh, you’re way too attractive to be with him…”) and promptly receiving an additional two days off.
-- The unspoken competition among everyone (!) to sport the most ridiculous "St. Patrick's" Day attire. Anything and everything was fair game.

The weather left much to be desired (40 degrees, rainy) but it couldn’t keep down our spirits (or the spirits themselves). Strolling through the streets of the Fair City, slurring through songs with close friends is a memory that is still vivid and one that I will hold dear.

On the whole, the festivities were a week-long celebration that the city geared up for and delivered. Dublin has experienced a fiscal (and emotional) boom in recent years and is striving to be a prominent, cosmopolitan European capitol. As a result, both the parade and the events leading up to the parade took on a "worldly" sense of importance. And, indeed, the city blossomed into a multicultural melting pot, all adorned in green.

Cheers!