St. Patrick’s Day churns up memories of five years ago, when a gaggle of opportunistic young people attached like leeches to student-led parties, took over a neighbourhood, rioted, and made the kind of international news for London that no city wants to attract. Cue The Who and Won’t Get Fooled Again!
Every year, Western University and Fanshawe College remind students of their responsibilities to be respectful and celebrate within the law. Police patrol downtown and student areas in big, visible numbers, and tweet photos of parties they break up. I have to admit that it’s amusing to see a picture of officers rolling beer kegs down a sidewalk as disappointed partiers decked out in green look on.
I worked on Richmond Row for four years and kids start streaming into downtown around 11 am. It’s a sea of green excitement. The bars go all out with Irish festivities and the parties last until the wee hours. I’ve also seen the post-St Patrick’s walk of shame of women and men heading home at dawn, still dressed in yesterday’s green clothes although their crisp party hats have gotten a little bit droopy.
If you celebrate, enjoy your green beer and arrange a ride home. If you don’t, well, join me on Twitter and follow @lpsmediaoffice for the entertaining updates! They use the hashtag #dontinviteus2urparty