St. Patrick’s Day Around the World: Fair Homes in Fair Cities

It’s time again when the world goes green for a day: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, The Day of the Festival of Patrick, Paddy’s Day, St. Pat’s, (all together, now!) … St. Patrick’s Day!      

Marking the feast of Ireland’s patron saint goes all the way back to the 5th century; however, the cultural holiday we know and love today began in 1631 when the Roman Catholic Church established March 17 as the official feast day with the shamrock, the three-leafed clover, as its symbol.   

Here in the 21st century, it is a day to celebrate all things Irish by the “wearin’ o’ the green,” feasting on corned beef and cabbage, perhaps even raising a glass of the “Black Stuff.”       

So, whether you’re in Dublin’s Fair City or farther afield, Irish in deed or Irish at heart, here are six cities that go big and go green for “Paddy’s Day.” In them, you’ll also find a place to call home. Cead míle fáilte!   

1. Dublin    

Of course, there is no place better to partake in the St. Patrick’s Day party than in the Fair City itself: Dublin. The four-day festival of cultural celebration kicks off with the annual National St. Patrick’s Day Parade, themed this year as Mar a chéile sinn, “We Are One.”

Around half a million souls, clad in the green, white, and orange of the tricolor, are expected to line the 1.5-mile route from Parnell Square on Dublin’s Northside down O’Connell Street, over the River Liffey, by way of O’Connell Bridge, and through streets broad and narrow to St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Dublin’s Southside.

The procession ends at 2 pm, but the trad music, the céilí dancing, the storytelling, and the famous Irish craic will be on tap until the wee hours.    

On the Market   

Oceanfront House in Howth, Dublin, Ireland   

Oceanfront House is at one with its private, 7.2-acre setting on the Hill of Howth—one of the most coveted coastal locations on the Emerald Isle.

This striking contemporary home affords splendid isolation but with every modern luxury. The structure itself pays homage to its surroundings through the use of local materials that blend seamlessly into the rocky landscape. The roof is covered in sustainable, corrosion-resistant zinc, and includes two terraces from which to take in a coastal panorama of Ireland’s Eye, Lambay Island, Howth Harbour, and the Irish Sea beyond.

The floor plan offers 3,390 square feet of airy, light-filled living space. The grounds are surrounded by 300 acres of conservation land designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Howth Village, and its charming pubs and restaurants, is a short stroll away.    

2. New York City 

The city that never sleeps knows how to party, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception. All eyes, Irish or otherwise, will be on that famous thoroughfare Fifth Avenue for the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, marching with fervor and fanfare from 44th Street, past St. Patrick’s Cathedral, up to 79th Street.

More than 150,000 people are expected to join in the revelry with millions more flooding into Midtown Manhattan like a sea of green. They mostly come from the outer boroughs to the outer reaches of the tri-state to be a part of the largest and oldest (yes, including Dublin’s) St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world, a tradition that dates back to 1762.    

On the Market   

Penthouse C at 941 Park Avenue, New York, New York   

New York’s Park Avenue is the tony setting for Penthouse C. This elegant 10-room duplex is well suited for entertaining groups large or small. A hallway with herringbone floors and milled archways connects the den, office, and powder room.

A decorative, hand-carved wooden staircase in the galleried hall rises to the second floor, where the luxurious primary suite, two additional bedrooms, and a wraparound garden terrace await. The property includes a separate 100-square-foot unit, ideal as a fifth bedroom, office, or studio.

Designed by Schwartz & Gross in 1927, 941 Park Avenue is one of the premier co-ops on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, offering white-glove services, five-star amenities, and an enviable location just two blocks from Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.    

Related: Tour Kilmurry House, a Picture-Perfect Country Manor in Ireland

3. Savannah, Georgia   

The Southern city of Savannah, Georgia, is one of the most beautiful urban landscapes in the United States.

The jewel in its crown is the National Historic Landmark District: the nation’s largest. That’s not its only claim to fame, though; the Forest City, in all its green, Spanish moss-draped splendor, stages one of the world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades.

In terms of crowds, pomp and circumstance, it’s right up there, just behind New York City and Chicago. This its 199th year, the parade draws around 300,000 revelers, many of whom will be up at dawn for the traditional 6 a.m. “land rush” to stake a claim on a prime parade-viewing spot in one of the city’s picturesque squares.    

On the Market   

Italianate Mansion on Jones Street, Savannah, Georgia   

This circa-1850 Italianate townhouse overlooks a charming cobblestone street lined with towering live oaks in the heart of Savannah’s Historic Landmark District.

The four-story residence has been restored, updated, and reconfigured as luxurious turnkey condominiums. All come fully furnished and elegantly appointed with that signature Southern charm.

Among the details are high ceilings with original plaster medallions, crown moldings, decorative millwork, and sash windows to take in the picturesque views of the streetscape.

The heart pine flooring has also been carefully preserved and restored throughout the house. Additional highlights include fiber optic wiring, Farrow & Ball paintwork, 11 original fireplaces, and a private walled courtyard. Beautiful Forsyth Park is just around the corner.   

4. Chicago, Illinois    

St. Patrick’s Day looms large in the American cultural landscape, and no place goes green quite like the Windy City. The annual Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade is unique for its river dyeing ceremony—when the Chicago River turns a near-luminous shade of emerald green to match the green hills of Ireland.

The ceremony (in its 68th year) is carried out the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day to coincide with the city’s official St. Patrick’s Day parade, a three-hour procession of colorful floats, dance troupes, bagpipers, and marching bands through downtown Chicago.   

On the Market   

Residence #3505 at Parkview, Chicago, Illinois   

Chicago’s Streeterville district is a vibrant enclave, home to the historic Navy Pier, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and a sweeping stretch of Lake Michigan. Parkview is a luxurious 47-story tower with 280 condominiums, including this 35th-floor residence.

The 2,300-square-foot home has a bright and open layout with large windows and two terraces to take in the panoramic views of Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, and the city skyline.

Further highlights include nine-foot-high ceilings and wide-plank oak flooring throughout, custom built-ins, two primary suites, and a chef’s kitchen with a large marble island and Viking appliances.

Building amenities include 24-hour doorman service, an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, sundeck, exercise room, party room, business center, bike storage, receiving room—even an on-site dry cleaner.    

Related: Explore 6 Luxurious Country Homes in the Emerald Isle 

5. Boston, Massachusetts  

Boston celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a street party like no other. The official parade, sponsored by Guinness, has been a South Side tradition since 1901, taking place on the Sunday closest to St. Patrick’s Day.

More than a million spectators are expected to join the revelry in “Southie,” the affectionate term for the historic neighborhood located to the south and east of downtown.

St. Patrick’s Day itself coincides with an observed public holiday in Boston: Evacuation Day, which commemorates the first major American military victory against British troops in the American Revolutionary War on March 17, 1766.   

On the Market   

The Tiffany Ayer Mansion in Boston, Massachusetts   

The Ayer Mansion is the only remaining Louis Comfort Tiffany-designed private home in the world. The building’s pale granite façade confronts the Boston streetscape as vividly today as at its unveiling in 1902.

Inspired by world travel, Tiffany explored the use of Moorish mosaic influences and surprisingly contemporary design throughout the block-through, five-story residence commissioned by industrialist Frederick Ayer. Nearly all the original elements remain, including the great hall with its imperial staircase under a proscenium arch of glittering Tiffany-glass mosaic tiles.

Other magnificent details include opalescent glass and shimmering mosaics throughout, vast copper-clad double doors, and bow-front windows with stained-glass panels.

The current owners have created plans, permits, and renderings to restore the National Historic Landmark as a six-bedroom, thirteen-bathroom single-family home. 

6. Toronto, Ontario, Canada   

St. Patrick’s Day is a big event north of the U.S. border, too. In the city of Toronto, home to Canada’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade, festivities begin the night before at the Annual Grand Marshall’s Ball.

The parade starts at noon on Sunday, March 19, at St. George and Bloor Street. The line of march heads west on Queen Street to its destination in Nathan Phillips Square.

The party continues on with folk music and céilí dance performances, and other cultural events throughout the month of March: declared “Irish Heritage and Appreciation Month” by the Mayor of Toronto.   

On the Market  

Georgian-Style Mansion in Lawrence Park, Toronto, Ontario 

This Georgian-style mansion occupies a tranquil, tree-lined corner lot in Toronto’s prestigious Lawrence Park neighborhood.

The 6,500-square foot, six-bedroom home was completely renovated in 2019 for the live-work-play lifestyle. French doors in the living room and chef’s kitchen open to a sun terrace with a swimming pool and spa.

The main floor also includes a formal dining area, office, and mud room with a pet grooming station. The upper floor owner’s suite has dual walk-in closets and a sumptuous bathroom with soaking tub. The lower level is dedicated to an entertainment suite with a movie theater, bar, gym, and four-car garage. Downtown Toronto is 20 minutes’ drive.