Travel & Places / Saturday, April/20/2024 / 26

St. Patrick"s Day in Greece

Did St. Patrick drive out the snakes from Greece? No. Did St. Patrick ever choose a Greek isle over his Emerald Isle? No. But don't worry - a lively Irish expatriate community in Greece has assured that you'll never be far from an Irish bar on St. Patrick's Day. And every one of them is a sure place for a party on or around March 17th.

St. Patrick's Day Gala Ball in Athens

If you're looking for a more formal celebration of St.

Patrick's Day in Greece, the Greek-Irish Society St. Patrick's Day 2011 Gala Ball on Sunday, March 10th may be just the ticket. The annual event is held at the Hotel Grande Bretagne (yes, at a hotel called "The Great Britain" in French) and costs 80 Euros including meal, drinks, music, and "an all-night disco". More information is available from Siobhan Kidd at (011 30) 210 271 2607, Maryke Bunker at (011 30) 695615 4955 or Gillian Efremiadis at (011 30) 694 493 7060.

Irish Pubs and Bars in Greece

Mike's Irish Bar - In the heart of Athens, this is a green and orange oasis for Irish expatriates and anyone who loves the Irish pub scene. It's also an active sports bar, and provides a karaoke night as well.
James Joyce Pub - one of Matt Barrett's favorites. It's also an especially lively place on James Joyce's birthday, February 2nd.

Molly Malone's - Glyfada
Skip the website - the repetitive "camera" click will drive you mad - and instead go directly to the bar itself in the seaside community of Glyfada.

O'Connell's - Piraeus

This newish Irish-themed bar should feel right at home in seaside Piraeus by the ferry port.

Crete is popular with Irish expatriates and travelers, and so it offers at least two dozen Irish-themed bars and pubs. There are several within true pub-crawling distance in Malia, Crete - but be careful as that is also along a main road, and somehow, high traffic and high spirits don't mix too well on St. Patrick's Day or any other time of year, for that matter.

In another language, it would be "Cheers" - but on Zakynthos (also known as Zante) Slainte is the word and that pub gathers more than its fair share of Irish expatriates and others who want to enjoy a variant on the Greek toast of "Yasou!" or "Yamas!"

St. Patrick's Day in Thessaloniki

Up in Thessaloniki, the local branch of the international chain Bennigan's is a good bet for a party on St. Patrick's Day. Also check the not-Irish-sounding Lotos Bar in Thesssaloniki across from the iconic White Tower. For 2011, reader "Irish in Thess" reports there will be a party there on the 17th, and another at Aroma Bar at the waterfront on the 19th.
So go green ...and go Greek!