As we all know St. Patrick’s first port of call on a Booze Cruise Tour to Ireland was the beautiful Wicklow Town. As the alternative facts of history will show, the first documented place he set foot was Tá Sé’s Pub in the Market Square. Being an awful man for the beer, it is said that St. Pintsman Patrick went there for the cure after a heavy night on board his ship necking a few bottles of rum and playing a few games of snakes and ladders with the lads.

Legend has it that he parked up the ship on the Sunday night in Wicklow Harbour and didn’t chance heading home because the coast guard had been spotted earlier that evening and he wasn’t risking it. He woke up with an absolute head on him the Monday morning after Colly Chimp Bunion Byrne had him up singing Allez Allez Allez in Fitz’s and took a few of the lads for €50 throwing darts, so he nipped up to Tá Sé’s for the cure and ended up on the lash with the lads and hopped off the pints all day which led to a lock in and a sing song for the ages later that night. It is now customary that every August, Tá Sé’s regulars dress up and welcome patrons from the towns other pubs where they sing songs to mark St Patrick’s first Tá Sé’s Monday Club visit.

So enamoured with their guest, the locals have named pretty much everything in his honour as can be seen to this day with the local Gaa Club, Church and National School to name but a few who still bear his name. Sadly there will always be a few naysayers who want to tarnish good people’s names and St Patrick was no exception to being a victim of this kind of carry on. Some wise guys say that St Patrick was stoned when he arrived in Wicklow town which in truth might explain why he was killing imaginary snakes but nevertheless all heroic stories will have some negativity surrounding them and it is up to you if you want to listen to idle gossip.

Whatever story you believe doesn’t really matter, what matters is that you get yourself down to the parade today and follow in the footsteps of St Patrick and get a pint or two in Tá Sé’s one of four Wicklow UNESCO World Heritage Pubs.