St Patrick's Day with a Caribbean twist on Montserrat

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 2:10 PM

The Caribbean island of Montserrat may be one of the last places you’d expect to find a vibrant St Patrick’s Day festival, but the island’s Irish heritage is proudly celebrated every year from March 12 to 19.

Montserrat is the only other country in the world where St Patrick’s Day is a public holiday, as this Caribbean hotspot was a haven for Irish Catholics fleeing from persecution in the 17th century.

This year, the locals will be celebrating with a week-long event, which blends the best of Irish culture with traditional Caribbean entertainment and elements of African heritage, making Montserrat an unmissable stop-off on your Latin American tour.

You may notice locals wearing traditional dress for the week, which heavily features green colours, and you can also enjoy a pint of Guinness or Green Heineken in the evenings.

Furthermore, African-inspired events such as the Freedom Run fun-run and masquerade dancing will commemorate the slave history in Montserrat.

For more information about the St Patrick’s Day events this year, go to: www.visitmontserrat.com

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