Assumpta Griffin (Irish Embassy): St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in the Czech Republic as far back as the 17th century.

This March 17, there will be a huge St. Patrick's celebration taking place in several pubs and other places in Prague. After a very well receiver nterview with singer songwriter Travis O'Neill we talked with Assumpta Griffin from the Irish Embassy in prague.
 
For how long have you been living here and what is Prague like for you?
I have lived in Prague since August 2015 and it is a beautiful city.  I have found Czech people to be very friendly and I have made a lot of friends here.
 
Do you think the Irish nature is close to the Czech one?
There are a number of similarities between the Czechs and Irish. Celtic people came from Central Europe and DNA evidence shows there is still a connection.  There is great interest in Irish music and dance in the Czech Republic, as well as in the Irish language, with classes and programmes in a number of cities. Many Irish literary works have been translated into Czech, including those by classic authors like Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, as well as those by contemporary writers like Seamus Heaney.
There is a public statue of St. Patrick in Karviná in the Czech Republic and St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in the Czech Republic as far back as the 17th century.
 
Why is St. Patrick’s Day so very important for the Irish?
St. Patrick’s Day is the national day of Ireland and is celebrated all over the world.  St. Patrick’s Day is a time of celebration in Ireland and for all those of Irish descent and affinity around the world.  It has become a moment when we celebrate Ireland’s global reach and our contribution to the wider world, and also the very positive influence that the wider world has had, and continues to have, on Ireland.
 
How do they usually celebrate it in their home country?
Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals to celebrate Irish culture.   There are also huge celebrations all around the world – last year the diverse St. Patrick’s Day programme ranged from a “St. Patrick Rocks” music festival in Hanoi, Vietnam, to a céilí at the foot of the Great Wall of China.  Every year a number iconic statues, stadiums and other structures go green on St Patrick's Day, e.g. the Pyramids, Sydney Opera House, Niagara Falls, Table Mountain in South Africa and New York's Empire State Building.  This year the Dancing House in Prague will go green.
 
What are some things the Czechs can learn from the Irish?
As mentioned above, there are a number of classes and programmes in Irish music and dance in the Czech Republic.  Also, there are a lot of Czechs living in Ireland, many of whom have worked in large multinational companies in Ireland and some have now returned to the Czech Republic and brought this experience with them.
 
And, what could the Irish learn from the Czechs?
The Czech Republic has always had very good tennis players, so perhaps Ireland could benefit from some lessons from them!!