it's not just a reason to puke up green beer

saint patrick - once upon a time the irish were cool - then patrick brought them christianity - and the worst brand of it...catholicism or else man - rotten luck for the irish - it's no wonder st patrick's day celebrations have been ritualized to little more than an excuse to invoke a drunken stupor - a collective drowning of sorrows if you will - pity and piety for the irish

http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Mar1997/feature1.asp