Letter to the Editor: Irish Tomfoolery and Roman Catholic Appropriation on a Lamentable St. Patrick’s Day

Dear Editor,

I am shocked and appalled by the disgraceful display of tomfoolery this past St. Patrick’s Day weekend. What should be a day of vespers, reflection, and penance has instead been reduced to an excuse for mindless revelry, excessive drinking, and tasteless parade floats. St. Patrick’s Day is not meant to be a nationwide “piss-up” but rather a solemn occasion for acknowledging our spiritual and cultural inheritance.

Moreover, I must remind this publication—despite its Catholic-leaning editorial stance—that St. Patrick was the founder of the ancient and esteemed Church of Ireland. The first Christians in Ireland were of this established Church, long before the dominance of Papist zealotry distorted our island’s religious landscape. The false historical narrative that attributes Ireland’s Christianisation solely to Roman Catholicism must be countered with raw truth and fact.

St. Patrick’s Day ought to be a dignified day of reflection, not an exhibition of cultural degeneracy and foolishness. The Irish people must reclaim the true meaning of this day and acknowledge the deeper spiritual and historical significance it holds.

Sincerely,

Edmund Spenser