Shamrocks and shenanigans - St Patrick's Day

A DigitalNZ Story by Donna Robertson

A celebration of things Irish for St Patrick's Day - 17 March.

Irish, Ireland, St Patricks Day, shamrocks

Image: St Hat Trick. 17 March, 2007.

St Hat Trick. 17 March, 2007.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: St. Patrick's Day display

St. Patrick's Day display

Kete Horowhenua

Image: Mr J F Aspell flying the Irish flag on St Patrick's Day

Mr J F Aspell flying the Irish flag on St Patrick's Day

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: St. Patrick's Day. "Guaranteed LUCKY four leaf clovers." "I'll take the lot." 17 March, 2003.

St. Patrick's Day. "Guaranteed LUCKY four leaf clovers." "I'll take the lot." 17 March, 2003.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: St Patricks day in Ladysmith, the Irish regiments celebrating the event in honour of their patron saint

St Patricks day in Ladysmith, the Irish regiments celebrating the event in honour of their patron saint

Auckland Libraries

Image: Winter, Mark 1958- :Leap year joke - what do frogs wear on St Patrick's Day? ... 17 March 2012

Winter, Mark 1958- :Leap year joke - what do frogs wear on St Patrick's Day? ... 17 March 2012

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sport and General" Photo. Distributing shamrocks to children of the Irish Guards in the grounds of the depot at Caterham, Surrey, on St. Patrick's Day, March 17. (Evening Post, 07 April 1938)

Sport and General" Photo. Distributing shamrocks to children of the Irish Guards in the grounds of the depot at Caterham, Surrey, on St. Patrick's ...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Jeremy and Rona Cooper

Jeremy and Rona Cooper

Kete Horowhenua

Image: Irish protest poster

Irish protest poster

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Royal Irish Fusiliers, Post Office Square, Wellington

Royal Irish Fusiliers, Post Office Square, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Poblacht Na H Eireann; the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic to the people of Ireland

Poblacht Na H Eireann; the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic to the people of Ireland

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Saint Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland

Saint Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: W. BURKE, Winner of the Irish Jig. (Otago Witness, 21 March 1906)

W. BURKE, Winner of the Irish Jig. (Otago Witness, 21 March 1906)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Irish men in a hurling match, at an unidentified sportsground, Wellington

Irish men in a hurling match, at an unidentified sportsground, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Dancers at the Irish National Feis, Kilbirnie, Wellington - Photograph taken by John Nicholson

Dancers at the Irish National Feis, Kilbirnie, Wellington - Photograph taken by John Nicholson

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Irish female camogie team playing at an unidentified sportsground at Labour Day weekend

Irish female camogie team playing at an unidentified sportsground at Labour Day weekend

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Wellington Irish National Society camogie team, with trophy and camogie sticks

Wellington Irish National Society camogie team, with trophy and camogie sticks

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Patrick O'Hagan, the Irish balladeer, with his accompanist Hal Stead

Patrick O'Hagan, the Irish balladeer, with his accompanist Hal Stead

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: W B Yeats

W B Yeats

Auckland Libraries

Image: Patrick O'Hagan, Irish singer, with an unidentified woman, at the taxation office, Wellington

Patrick O'Hagan, Irish singer, with an unidentified woman, at the taxation office, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library