This year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration was preparation for the trip of a lifetime for four Island women.
For the 15th year in a row ,Bernie O’Shea, Heather Gamble-Silliker, Sharon Wedge, and Rachel Doucette, spent from opening to last call at the Olde Dublin Pub in Charlottetown celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
But this year was even more special.
The women were getting ready for a two-week trip to Ireland in July.
“We’ve been preparing since we were babies and we’re going,” said Wedge.
The 16-day trip will include an eight-day pub tour and a stay in the nation’s capital of Dublin.
The trip has been in the works since the women have been friends and came to fruition in the last year.
It’s not the first trip to Ireland for O’Shea and Wedge.
O’Shea went about 10 years ago and Wedge went in September with her daughters.
Wedge said the experience wasn’t the same without her girlfriends.
“They (my daughters) do not know how to party,” she said.
The four friends from the Alberton area book a hotel every year and spend the entire day at the Olde Dublin Pub on St. Patrick’s Day.
They even change their attire part way through the day from one green outfit to another.
“We have to do a costume change,” said Doucette. “We’ll have hats and stuff later.”
The Irish holiday saw a sea of green at the Olde Dublin Pub as patrons danced and clinked glasses to live Irish music.
Doucette said she and her friends love that kind of atmosphere.
“We love the dance, we love the music, we love the beer,” she said.
Bob McKenna and his wife Francine McKenna also go to the Olde Dublin Pub to celebrate the occasion every year.
“It’s our heritage here on P.E.I.,” he said.
Some patrons were new to a St. Paddy’s Day in P.E.I.
Dennis Rumney and his wife Jackie just moved to Charlottetown from Victoria, B.C.
Rumney said the Irish holiday is even more celebrated on the Island.
“It’s stronger here,” he said.
Meanwhile, the four Ireland-bound P.E.I. women have four months to get excited for their trip.
“I think I’m mostly looking forward to meeting the locals and having fun, going pub to pub,” said Doucette.
HANGOVER CURES
Some quick suggestions to get rid of a pesky hangover were provided by patrons at the Olde Dublin Pub on St. Patrick’s Day.
Perri Wight of Cornwall said while she hasn’t tried this method, she heard there’s a common refrigerator item that should help.
“I hear pickle juice is good,” she said.
Jackie Rumney of Charlottetown said the trick is drinking less but if it’s too late for that, water is key.
“Lots of water,” she said.
However, her husband Dennis prefers the hair of the dog method.
“A Caesar in the morning,” he said.